Secure co-financing quickly!
This is the only Way to keep the IC Industry in Europe
GobalFoundries is building a new fab in the USA - Silicon Saxony is now demanding that Europe quickly pledge public co-financing.
"Otherwise, chip companies will continue to expand their sites outside Europe, where states also have a strategic interest in a strong semiconductor industry and therefore provide funding," says Frank Bösenberg, managing director of Silicon Saxony e.V..
That's because GlobalFoundries' decision to build a new fab in the U.S. creates facts in Europe in the global race for production capacity in times of chip shortages. "It is far more than a wake-up call!" warns Frank Bösenberg.
Because there have been more than enough wake-up calls over the past months. The reactions to them have been quite positive: Yes, Europe needs more digital sovereignty and security. Yes, the assembly lines in Europe's car factories should no longer stand still. Yes, Europe will not give up its ambition for state-of-the-art chip technologies smaller than 5 nm. According to Bösenberg, this shows that the industrial policy goals are clearly formulated and enjoy consensus.
"However, the speed of implementation must accelerate dramatically. Industry in Europe now needs a binding commitment on public co-financing," says Bösenberg. Only then will it have arguments to secure investment for planned capacity expansions in Europe, he added.
