Brussels, 13/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - According to European electronic industry leaders, Europe could capture up to 60% of new electronics markets and double the economic value of European production in components for semiconductors over the next ten years. This is the message that the Electronics Leaders Group (ELG) delivered to Commissioner for the Digital Agenda,Neelie Kroes. The Commission is expected to unveil the ELG's plan on 14 February. The commissioner stated: “I want us in the driver's seat. The sector wants to be back in the driver's seat. So my message is this: we are going to make Europe the place to make and by innovative micro-and nano-electronics”.
The detailed plan presented by the eleven electronics sector leaders, requested by the commissioner, recommends the following strategy to the European Union: 1) Focus on areas where Europe is strong - automotive, energy, industrial automation and security. The target is to double the current production in the next 10 years. 2) Focus on new high growth areas, in particular the Internet of Things (IoT) and the development of “Smart-X” markets (e.g. smart phones, smart grids etc.). The target is to capture 60% of this emerging market by 2020. 3) Regain strong presence in mobile and wireless communications. The target is for Europe to capture 20% of the projected growth of these markets.
In order to achieve these objectives, the ELG is proposing a “Smart Everything Everywhere” strategy, with the creation of centres of excellence in Europe where emerging technologies can be tested on a large scale. It should be pointed out that the Commission unveiled a new industrial strategy for electronics on 23 May (see EUROPE 10851). In the follow-up, the ELG was set up with the aim of devising a plan capable of attaining the targets that had been set out. (IL/transl.fl)