People often tell me that I say out loud what everyone else is thinking. So there it is. It’s July 1, 2021, and I have to admit I’m feeling a little off. Probably because this time of year we are usually in the throes of SEMICON West preparations. Even last year with the virtual event, we were busy lining up interviews so we could ZOOM into SEMICON West. Back then, I had energy for the new format. But after a full year of virtual events, I’m ready for a break. This year, I’m more excited about the fact that for the first time in 15 years, I can take an extra-long Fourth of July Weekend holiday to unplug and go sit on the beach. AND I CAN’T WAIT.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m sorry we have to put off gathering in person until December. While this industry has proven that virtual events are sufficient for delivering the content portion of trade shows, it just can’t replace the energy that comes from visiting member booths, hallway conversations, face-to-face networking, and of course, the parties. How I miss the parties! Hats off to SEMI for recognizing this and giving everyone this July back so we can rest and recharge. We look forward to seeing everyone at SEMICON West 2021 in person in December (if not before).
Celebrating our 12th Anniversary
We first launched 3D InCites at SEMICON West in 2009. So, this time of year, I find myself reflecting on where we’ve been and where we’re going next. One thing I learned from 2020/2021, is that because we’ve always been a virtual platform, the pandemic didn’t slow us down much. We published our Yearbook on a digital platform that was even cooler than print because you could place videos as ads – (kind of like the newspapers in Harry Potter.) It’s also more sustainable than printing 5000 copies. We’ll probably keep doing it this way.
Our membership has grown steadily to 46 members, and we keep adding ways to help them tell their stories. We launched 3D InCites on the WeChat platform, giving us a presence in China. We also launched the 3D InCites Podcast in May. I’m excited to report that in the first two months, we’ve had more than 200 downloads from around the world. You can find the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and many others. If you’ve got an idea for a podcast episode, please contact me and we’ll discuss it. Sponsorships are available.
$20,000 To Seed the DEI Fund
Saving the best news for last. Although it was a bit of a challenge to celebrate the winners of the 3D InCites Awards virtually and hold our annual Mural Fund Raiser, we had more support than ever from our members. Thanks to the generosity of our Platinum Sponsors, EV Group, KLA, and ASE Group; Silver Sponsor, YES; and Gold Sponsors, Veeco, and CyberOptics; as well as all the mural donors (see the complete list here), we were able to seed our DEI Fund with $20,000.
Our goal is to grow that amount to $100,000, after which we will begin funding grants for start-up technology companies owned by women and/or underrepresented minorities. Learn more about how you can participate.
What’s Next?
As the world slowly resumes in-person meetings, we’re working on some ideas to bring our members together at events of our own. We’re open to ideas, so drop us a line. ~ FvT
PS – Because we’re taking an extra-long weekend, there will NOT be a July 9th Issue of In Review, but we’ll be back to our regular Friday schedule on the 16th, featuring a very special Podcast Episode that you won’t want to miss.
