A new video is available summarizing Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp.’s Fall Signature Event that celebrated the region’s storied history and bright future of technological innovation.

The event, “Lehigh Valley’s Technology Sector: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” sponsored by Intel®, was attended by about 200 people at Iacocca Hall at Lehigh University on Nov. 8. 

LVEDC showcased the history of the region’s semiconductor industry - which began in 1951 with the first mass production of transistors by Western Electric in Allentown - and looked ahead at what must happen for it to grow.

The highlights video includes clips of a panel discussion with executives from Broadcom, iDEAL Semiconductor, Intel®, and Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania that was moderated by LVEDC President & CEO Don Cunningham.

The video also features remarks by Jill Bennett, Vice President, Xeon® & Networking Engineering Director, Network & Edge Group at Intel®.

“It is amazing that so much innovation that surrounds us in our daily lives has been created here in the Lehigh Valley,” Bennett said.

Components for the first iPhone originated in the Lehigh Valley. Firewire for Apple computers, Bluetooth, and Read Channel were invented and designed in the Lehigh Valley, Bennett said.

You can watch the highlights video here.

Today, the Lehigh Valley’s technology industry features about 30 companies that collectively employ about 1,500 people and produce technology relied upon by brands such as Google, Microsoft, Meta, AWS, AT&T, Verizon, Netflix, and Nokia. 

Semiconductor technology firms operating in the Lehigh Valley include AAYUNA, Broadcom, Cisco, Coherent, Infinera, iDEAL Semiconductor, Intel®, and POET Technologies. They are supported by Lehigh Valley firms such as Air Products, Evonik, EMD Electronics, and LBN that supply components and raw materials.

Together, they are creating solutions that allow data and electricity to be transmitted faster, with less heat, in smaller hardware.

You can read more about the Fall Signature Event here and here.

More videos from LVEDC can be found on YouTube here.