Why is this so important?
Microelectronics is a key enabling technology for digitalization, energy, mobility, security, defense, and industrial innovation. Semiconductors form the backbone of this field. Yet Europe’s share of global chip production has dropped from 20% in 2000 to just 8% in 2025 – a growing risk to both technological sovereignty and economic resilience.
The EU Chips Act, adopted in 2023, was a first step to counter this trend by investing in research, production capacity, and crisis preparedness. But critical questions remain:
- What comes next for Europe’s semiconductor industry?
- How can Europe strengthen its role across the entire value chain?
- Which joint efforts are required to secure and shape technological sovereignty?
- What is needed to build a strong and resilient European semiconductor ecosystem?
These pressing issues will be at the center of our upcoming Online Webinar “Microelectronics for a sovereign Europe” on November 26, 2025 from 12:00–1:00 pm (CET) featuring:
- Pierre Chastanet, Head of Unit for Microelectronics and Photonics, European Commission, DG CONNECT - Chastanet is responsible for implementing the EU Chips Act.
- Prof. Dr. Christoph Kutter, Director of the Fraunhofer Institute EMFT, VDE Vice President - co-author of the VDE publications on microelectronics ‘Hidden Electronics I, II, II and IV'.
- Thomas Horn, Managing Director Saxony Economic Development Corporation (WFS)