Tuesday, July 25th 2023

The European Union Council Approves Chips Act

The Council has today approved the regulation to strengthen Europe's semiconductor ecosystem, better known as the 'Chips Act'. This is the last step in the decision-making procedure. The Chips Act aims to create the conditions for the development of a European industrial base in the field of semiconductors, attract investment, promote research and innovation and prepare Europe for any future chip supply crisis. The programme should mobilise €43 billion in public and private investment (€3.3 billion from the EU budget), with the objective of doubling the EU's global market share in semiconductors, from 10% now to at least 20% by 2030.

With the Chips Act, Europe will be a frontrunner in the world semiconductors race. We can already see it in action: new production plants, new investments, new research projects. And in the long run, this will also contribute to the renaissance of our industry and the reduction of our foreign dependencies. - Héctor Gómez Hernández, Spanish Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism
Next steps
Following the Council's approval today of the European Parliament's position, the legislative act has been adopted.

After being signed by the President of the European Parliament and the President of the Council, the regulation will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force on the third day following its publication.

The Council has also passed an amendment to the regulation establishing the joint undertakings under Horizon Europe, to allow the establishment of the chips joint undertaking, which builds upon and renames the existing key digital technologies joint undertaking. The amendment was approved by the Council today following consultation with the Parliament. Both texts will be published in the Official Journal at the same time.

Background
Chips are small devices composed of semiconductors (materials capable of allowing or blocking the flow of electricity) and able to store large quantities of information or perform mathematical and logical operations. They are essential for a wide range of daily-use products, from credit cards to cars or smartphones. With the development of artificial intelligence, 5G networks and the internet of things, demand and market opportunities for chips and semiconductors are expected to grow substantially.

Currently, Europe is too dependent on chips produced abroad, which became even more evident during the COVID-19 crisis. Industry and other strategic sectors such as health, defence and energy faced supply disruptions and shortages. The Chips Act aims to reduce the EU's vulnerabilities and dependencies on foreign actors while reinforcing the EU's industrial base for chips, maximising future business opportunities and creating good-quality jobs. This will improve the EU's security of supply, resilience, and technological sovereignty in the field of chips.
Source: Council of the EU
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5 Comments on The European Union Council Approves Chips Act

#1
the54thvoid
Intoxicated Moderator
As a Glaswegian, I am all for any act which purports to supply me with more chips. Nom nom nom.

(Or fries, if you're linguistically inclined that way).

But on topic, let's face it, practically all the developed and developing nations are ramping up national production schedules for some semblance of silicon independence. It's a good thing, mostly. Just need the skilled workforce to work on it.
Posted on Reply
#2
Assimilator
the54thvoidAs a Glaswegian, I am all for any act which purports to supply me with more chips. Nom nom nom.

(Or fries, if you're linguistically inclined that way).
There's this little thing called "Brexit" which means that this European initiative has no effect on us. The Tory "strategy" for addressing the semiconductor imbalance is, as you'd expect, incoherent to the point of uselessness.
the54thvoidBut on topic, let's face it, practically all the developed and developing nations are ramping up national production schedules for some semblance of silicon independence. It's a good thing, mostly. Just need the skilled workforce to work on it.
No developing nation is looking to manufacture chips because they don't have those skilled workers.
Posted on Reply
#3
Unregistered
Hopefully they won't waste the money on Intel and the likes, and create/develop locally.
#4
trsttte
Getting more semiconductors production in Europe is great and all but how come they don't realize they're going overboard with subsidies when demand is falling of a cliff? Companies will line up their pockets and build the bare minimum to avoid causing a bigger bust than we're already seeing
Posted on Reply
#5
Fluffmeister
Xex360Hopefully they won't waste the money on Intel and the likes, and create/develop locally.
Too late, Germany are throwing billions at those pesky "foreign actors".
Posted on Reply
May 3rd, 2024 15:08 EDT change timezone

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