Austin, TX and Silicon Valley, CA – March 12, 2026 – Silicon Catalyst and IQPC Exhibitions have entered an exclusive Strategic Partnership for the upcoming Microelectronics US 2026 conference, strengthening the event’s position as a key commercial and technical platform for the US semiconductor industry. 

At a pivotal moment for US semiconductor expansion - spanning domestic fabrication investment, AI hardware acceleration, photonics and supply-chain resilience — this partnership positions Microelectronics US as a key industry forum, convening the companies and innovators actively shaping the next phase of semiconductor innovation, commercialization, and ecosystem collaboration. 

Microelectronics US is a dedicated large-scale industry event focused on semiconductor design, advanced manufacturing, embedded systems, AI hardware, and supply-chain innovation. Taking place at the Palmer Center, Austin on April 22–23, 2026, the event brings together senior engineers, technical architects, commercial leaders, manufacturing specialists, investors, and workforce development stakeholders from across the US microelectronics ecosystem. 

The conference offers attendees an opportunity to gain insight into the innovations coming from semiconductors, photonics and embedded system suppliers, with complementary admission to the event. Designed to facilitate meaningful engagement rather than passive exhibition, the event connects innovators, manufacturers, system integrators, and commercial decision-makers actively shaping the future of semiconductor technology and deployment. 

Silicon Catalyst is widely recognized as the only accelerator dedicated exclusively to semiconductors. Its portfolio spans AI-driven chip design, photonics innovation, embedded systems advancement, and next-generation silicon technologies. 

By aligning with Silicon Catalyst, Microelectronics US reinforces its commitment to: 

• Supporting early-stage and growth semiconductor innovation 

• Connecting startups with strategic partners and manufacturers 

• Strengthening collaboration between design, packaging, and system integration 

• Creating a serious platform for AI hardware acceleration conversations 

Steve Clarke, Managing Director at IQPC Exhibitions, commented: 

“The US semiconductor industry is scaling rapidly across design, manufacturing, and advanced packaging. Partnering with Silicon Catalyst strengthens the technical and commercial depth of Microelectronics US. This is about bringing the right ecosystem into one room and enabling meaningful engagement.” 

Pete Rodriguez, CEO of Silicon Catalyst, added: 

“The semiconductor industry is entering a critical phase of innovation and industrial expansion. The Microelectronics US event provides a focused environment for collaboration across startups, established players and strategic partners. We look forward to contributing to that momentum.”

Microelectronics US takes place April 22–23, 2026 at the Palmer Events Center in Austin, Texas. The 2026 edition will bring together semiconductor design leaders, advanced packaging specialists, photonics innovators, embedded systems providers, manufacturing experts, and supply chain decisionmakers for two focused days of technical insight and commercial engagement. For more information and registration details, visit: www.microelectronicsus.com

EE Times & Silicon Catalyst: Panel “Catalysts of AI Innovation” – April 22nd 

Silicon Catalyst and EE Times invite you to join their panel session at the Microelectronics US conference, Tuesday April 22, 10:55 – 11:35am.

The panel session will be moderated by Nitin Dahad, Executive Editor of EE Times, and will be joined by executives from NXP, Quadric AI and Salience Labs, to discuss their focus on developing transformative semiconductor industry solutions for the AI era.

About Microelectronics US

Microelectronics US is a definitive event accelerating both the strategic advancement and commercial success of the convergent semiconductor, photonics, and embedded systems industries. This unique platform bridges critical national objectives with unparalleled business opportunities. It's where industry leaders, government stakeholders, and groundbreaking innovators unite to drive the future of the US microelectronics ecosystem. Further information can be found at www.microelectronicsus.com

About Silicon Catalyst “it’s about what’s next®”

Silicon Catalyst is the only accelerator focused on the Global Semiconductor Industry including Chips, Chiplets, Materials, IP and Silicon fabrication-based Photonics, MEMS, Sensors, Life Science and Quantum. More than 1,500 startup companies worldwide have engaged with Silicon Catalyst, and the company has admitted over 150 exciting companies. With a world-class network of mentors to advise startups, Silicon Catalyst is helping new semiconductor companies address the challenges in moving from idea to realization. The accelerator supplies startups with access to design tools, silicon devices, networking, and a path to funding, banking and marketing acumen to successfully launch and grow their company’s novel technology. Details at www.siliconcatalyst.com