CASPA HOSTS “A CHIP ODYSSEY” SPECIAL SCREENING AND INDUSTRY PANEL CELEBRATING SEMICONDUCTOR HERITAGE
Mountain View, CA – November 2, 2025 – The Chinese American Semiconductor Professional Association (CASPA) successfully hosted a special film screening and industry discussion featuring A Chip Odyssey – The Island That Changed the World at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Mountain View. The event brought together semiconductor professionals, entrepreneurs, and students to celebrate the shared heritage of innovation that links Silicon Valley and Taiwan’s chip industry.
CASPA President Dr. Gary Wang and Xuefeng Jiang, CASPA Board of Director, led the entire execution of the screening event—from initial coordination with Sparknify to ticketing, networking reception, post-movie Q&A, and panel discussion arrangements—ensuring every detail was seamlessly managed. Stephanie Teng, also a CASPA Board of Director, led the ticket sales efforts and served as Master of Ceremonies (MC), facilitating smooth transitions and engaging interactions throughout the event. Special thanks to Zhibin Xiao, Danny Hua, and Mark Zhu for inviting an outstanding group of panel guests; Iris Song for coordinating VIP ticket bookings; and Jimmy Cheng, Ian Wang, and Suri Sun for inviting sponsors to support the movie; Xiangyu Zhang for assisting with video recording and photography; and Rainman Rui for leading the membership team to promote CASPA on-site. Many other CASPA board members and volunteers provided strong support wherever needed, including promoting ticket sales, assisting during the Q&A by passing microphones, and photography.
CASPA leadership and execution team with the Sparknify team, celebrating the success of the “A Chip Odyssey” screening collaboration.
The documentary chronicles how a generation of Taiwanese engineers—many trained in the United States—carried home vital knowledge and sparked the rise of a world-class semiconductor ecosystem. Its return to Silicon Valley, the birthplace of modern microelectronics, added a powerful historical resonance to the screening.
Attendees check in and network before the screening at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.
The program began at 2:00 p.m. with a lively networking reception and CASPA membership showcase. At 2:45 p.m., the film’s director and producers arrived for a short media interaction and greeting with attendees. The main screening started at 3:10 p.m., presenting a powerful documentary that captured the challenges and triumphs of early semiconductor pioneers who laid the foundation for Taiwan’s transformation into a global technology powerhouse.
Film director and producers greet the audience before the screening.
Following the screening, a Q&A session with the director and producers began at 5:00 p.m., giving the audience an opportunity to gain deeper insight into the creative process and the historical research behind the film.
Moderator Dr. Zhibin Xiao introduces the distinguished panelists.
At 5:20 p.m., the event transitioned into a thought-provoking panel discussion hosted by Dr. Zhibin Xiao, featuring distinguished leaders from academia and industry:
- David Lam – Co-Founder of Lam Research
- Shih-Wei Sun – Former CEO of UMC
- Pan-Wei Lai – Former Senior Vice President of TSMC
- James Harris – Stanford University
Audience members engage with the panelists during the post-screening discussion.
The event highlighted the collective effort of CASPA’s volunteer teams, including sponsorship, marketing, and membership promotion, who helped ensure a smooth and successful program. Several attendees joined CASPA as lifetime members during the event, underscoring the organization’s growing influence and commitment to serving the semiconductor community.
Panelists, CASPA leadership, and volunteers gather for a group photo at the close of the event.
CASPA extends heartfelt thanks to all participants, panelists, volunteers, and partners—especially Sparknify—for making the A Chip Odyssey screening a memorable and meaningful event. The afternoon exemplified the spirit of innovation, collaboration, and heritage that continues to drive the semiconductor industry and the CASPA community forward.