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Saxony initiates foundation of an alliance of European semiconductor regions
Saxon state government meets in Brussels - signing of a joint declaration of intent to establish an alliance of European microelectronics regions with a further 12 regions.
Minister President Kretschmer: "European alliance to increase competitive shares in Europe and create a unique space for investments in the chip industry".
Brussels (6 March 2023) - Together with 12 microelectronics locations from nine member states of the European Union, the Free State of Saxony has initiated the foundation of an Alliance of Semiconductor Regions. The future members signed a corresponding declaration of intent today (6 March 2023) in Brussels.
The aim of the alliance is to jointly strengthen growth and increase the competitive share of the European semiconductor industry compared to locations in the USA and Asia. To this end, knowledge and best practices are to be exchanged, cooperation and joint innovations promoted, and the development of a strong and integrated value chain supported. In this way, the Alliance will make an active contribution to the implementation of the EU Chip Act.
Minister President Michael Kretschmer explained: "In order to maintain Europe's economic strength and competitiveness, we must expand our technical sovereignty, especially in the semiconductor industry. To this end, Saxony will pull together with other strong microelectronics locations. The new European Alliance of Semiconductor Regions on the initiative of the Free State creates a unique space for investments and ecosystem structures in the chip industry."
"I welcome the initiative of the Saxon State Government to forge an alliance with numerous European regions known for their expertise in research, development and innovation in microelectronics. With 30 years of continuous and increasing investment, the Flemish government has helped to lay the foundations for a future-proof and resilient semiconductor ecosystem in Europe. We look forward to working with all regions in the spirit of a true pan-European partnership - from the lab to manufacturing and with continued investment in skills and talent development," said Jo Brouns, Minister of Economy of the Flemish Region and co-signatory of the Memorandum of Understanding.
Members of the Alliance are the regions of Basque Country (ESP), Bavaria (DEU), Centro-Region (POR), Flanders (BEL), Carinthia (AUT), Catalonia (ESP), North Brabant (NED) Overijssel (NED), Piedmont (ITA), Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (FRA), Saxony (DEU), Styria (AUT) and South Moravia (CZE).
In the area of research and innovation, the Alliance focuses on the development of new technologies, the promotion of technology transfer up to commercialisation. For skills and talent development within the alliance, education and training programmes are to be promoted and skilled workers are to be recruited for the regions. In addition, the members of the Alliance want to promote regional clusters and supra-regional cooperation and thus create a European network of microelectronics regions.
The founding of the alliance is expected to be completed in the 1st quarter of 2024. Saxony will host the founding event.
In addition to the current supporters, Saxony invites other semiconductor regions to attend the founding of the alliance.
In the future, the alliance will be coordinated by a steering committee consisting of representatives of the individual signatory regions, which will meet regularly to discuss and coordinate their activities.
In addition to strengthening cooperation between regions, the Alliance will also work with European and international organisations and stakeholders to promote the interests of its members and the semiconductor industry in Europe.
Background on the creation of the initiative:
It is important for Saxony to think in terms of regional alliances. This is already demonstrated by Saxony's membership in the Automotive Regions Alliance and the Solar Alliance. Following these examples, Saxony's initiative to establish an alliance of European semiconductor regions is intended to make an important contribution to catching up on market shares in Europe vis-à-vis competitors in the USA and Asia in the context of the implementation of the EU chip law and to bundle expertise in the field of science and research. At the same time, the alliance should help to become more resilient to unexpected events, e.g. with regard to disruptions in the supply chain.
Picture: Pawel Sosnowski