ESIA welcomes new Commission strategy

The European Semiconductor Industry Association (ESIA) has welcomed the European Commission’s new strategy for microelectronics and nanoelectronics. The ESIA says the plan will help support the industry in Europe and increase its contribution to the continent’s economy.

In a statement, Hendrik Abma, Director-General of ESIA, said: “ESIA welcomes the ambition and vision of the Commission’s strategy. ESIA has consistently underlined the importance of the European semiconductor industry to the competitiveness and vitality of the European economy as well as to tackling the grand societal challenges, such as energy efficiency and aging populations.”

The new Communication identifies this Key Enabling Technology as ‘essential for growth and jobs in Europe’ and important to today’s ‘digital products and services’. The policy document also sets out three objectives: to attract investment to support the European roadmap for micro- and nanoelectronics; to develop an EU-level mechanism to encourage RDI; and to take measures to increase Europe’s international competitiveness.

Micro- and nanoelectronics, together with photonics, will receive an estimated €1.5m of funding under the Industrial Leadership pillar of Horizon 2020.