“Semiconductors: Europe facing the challenge of strategic autonomy”
Competition is currently taking place in markets such as defence, communications, space, energy, health and of course digital, all areas where Europe's technological and industrial independence is a key element.
There are many emerging technologies that will bring industry to the level of development sought. Artificial Intelligence, quantum technology, in its communications, sensing and computing aspects, biotechnology, energy, etc. The future of both these markets and technologies lies in the field of innovation.
In this context, the semiconductor industry appears to be at the epicentre of a new industrial revolution that will affect everything from mobility to defence, including AI, health, energy, communications and computing.
Europe, historically renowned for its scientific advances and its contribution to universal knowledge in virtually all scientific fields and developments, faces the challenge of revitalising its innovation and industrial ecosystems so as not to fall further behind powers such as the United States, Taiwan, South Korea and China, which currently dominate global semiconductor production. This industry, which is fundamental to virtually all markets, products and technologies, has acquired a strategic dimension that transcends the boundaries of the technology sector. Its relevance is reflected in the fact that, without these components, it would be impossible to imagine the digitalisation and connectivity that characterise the 21st century.
Europe accounts for only 10% of global semiconductor production, a figure that contrasts with the production share it held three decades ago. The relocation of semiconductor technologies and industries due to globalisation, lack of competitiveness and lack of major investments in Europe have progressively reduced Europe's weight in this key sector.
Innovation has become an indispensable tool to reverse this trend and ensure the continent's technological autonomy.
In this respect, European and national efforts are aimed at:
- Promoting synergies between universities, research centres and companies, encouraging knowledge transfer and the creation of collaborative ecosystems. Programmes such as Horizon Europe and the European Chips Act, and in Spain the PERTE Chip programme, seek to channel public and private funds towards cutting-edge projects that enable the development and manufacture of more efficient and sustainable electronic components in Europe.
- To double Europe's share to more than 20%. To this end, a joint investment of more than 43,000 million euros in the EU and another 12,000 million euros in Spain is planned, between public and private funds, aimed at improving infrastructures, training and retaining talent and attracting new semiconductor factories as well as back end facilities (packaging and testing).
- Increase training capacity in all these technologies by providing technical schools, both vocational schools and universities, with the necessary human and technical resources.
- Reducing dependence on non-European suppliers, as well as improving the resilience of supply chains to geopolitical crises, natural disasters or pandemics, which in recent years have demonstrated the vulnerability of the global economy to shortages of these devices.
The future of the semiconductor industry is global and interdependent. No country or region can aspire to self-sufficiency, but it can strengthen its position through strategic alliances and appropriate investments to minimise its vulnerability. Europe, in order to maintain its strategic position in geopolitical terms, has to play a leading role in the development of key and critical technologies, including of course semiconductors.
The importance in and for Europe of the semiconductor industry and associated innovation and new technologies is more than ever a strategic issue for the future of the continent. The ability to respond to the technological, economic and societal challenges of the future depends on investment in industrial and technological development, as well as in training and knowledge. Europe has the capacity to be a relevant player in a scenario of permanent and always very rapid change, but for this to happen, both public and private investments and the associated policies must be sustainable over time.