Risk Is in the Details

In semiconductor manufacturing, risk isn’t always about location. It’s about what happens when a company tries to operate.

A permit that takes too long. Tooling stuck in customs. A certified engineer who can’t work across the border. IP that isn’t clearly protected.

These aren’t future problems — they show up early, in conversations and checklists. And for OSATs considering new sites, they matter.

What ATP Investors Need to Know

Backend operations depend on precision — not just inside the facility, but around it. That’s why ATP firms ask questions like:

• What’s the permitting timeline — and who owns it?

• Can U.S.-based technicians operate in Mexico — and vice versa?

• Are local suppliers covered on IP and liability?

• Can certifications transfer between countries or institutions?

• Will our logistics team run into problems at the border?

This is how risk shows up — not in press releases, but in the fine print.

What the Strategy Focuses On

That’s why Pillar 6 of the ATP-Ready Sonora strategy isn’t about creating new laws — it’s about reducing the friction in existing ones.

The current focus includes:

• Reviewing and streamlining permits and licensing

• Improving customs processes for ATP-critical equipment

• Supporting cross-border credential recognition

• Enabling workforce mobility for U.S.-Mexico ATP operations

• Clarifying supplier IP and regulatory obligations

This work isn’t designed to attract headlines. It’s designed to remove uncertainty.

The Value of Doing It Early

Risk doesn’t disappear once an OSAT sets up operations. It just gets harder — and more expensive — to fix.

That’s why this work is front-loaded. And why it’s not being done in isolation.

Government, universities, and companies are each part of this. Because de-risking isn’t a deliverable — it’s a process that depends on coordination.

And in a high-stakes, high-complexity industry like semiconductors, that kind of work can be the difference between momentum and missed opportunity.

Friction is a Dealbreaker

In semiconductor investment, execution risk kills more deals than cost. And execution risk lives in one place more than anywhere else: the regulatory maze.

How fast can we get a permit? How long to import used equipment? Who handles customs? What are the environmental review timelines? Are there surprises?

These aren’t afterthoughts — they’re make-or-break factors.

And the regions that win are the ones that make it easy to say yes. Not by cutting corners — but by building systems that reduce friction before it starts.

That’s why we’re working to create something most places talk about, but few actually deliver: a Single-Window Regulatory Office.

Not a Website. A System.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t just a portal with checklists. It’s a platform — and a team — built to solve problems across agencies, so that companies don’t have to.

It’s modeled on international best practices from Asia and Europe, where high-value industries (like semiconductors, aerospace, and biomanufacturing) require clean, fast, predictable pathways to get up and running.

The idea is simple: instead of navigating 15 agencies, companies interact with one office that coordinates across:

• Permits and environmental approvals

• Customs procedures and duty exemptions

• Workforce certifications

• Infrastructure connections

• And anything else that affects time-to-operate

But it’s not just about paperwork. It’s about clarity, responsiveness, and trust — the kind that turns risk into readiness.

Competitive Advantage, Not Compliance Duty

Most governments treat regulation like plumbing — invisible until something goes wrong.

We see it differently. In a race where every region wants to attract ATP investment, the ones that will stand out are those that make it easy to build — legally, confidently, and quickly.

That’s what this office is designed to do: turn coordination into a competitive edge.

It also reduces the load on investors themselves. When companies don’t have to build workaround teams just to navigate red tape, they can focus on what actually drives value — operations, hiring, and local integration.

The future of industrial attraction doesn’t just depend on incentives. It depends on execution. And execution starts with removing friction — before it costs us the deal.

We’re building for that reality now.

Want to help shape a frictionless entry point for semiconductor investors?

We’re working to define the structure, scope, and early priorities for a Single-Window Regulatory Office.

If you’ve faced permitting or customs delays — or want to be part of the solution — we want your input.

Join the Policy Streamlining Effort →