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.