Single Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said the financial effort, or ‘calibration’, under the European Chips Act would be similar to that in the US, during a debate at the Atlantic Council on Tuesday 21 September.
The Commissioner was invited, in a discussion with the American think tank, to give details of the announcement of a new initiative by the President of the European Commission on semiconductors (see EUROPE 12791/4). Mr Breton, while remaining cautious, indicated that the overall budget to support this initiative will be similar to that of the US (under the ‘American Chips Act’), which is about $52 billion, or about €44 billion.
He added that the initiative would be supported by public funds, but also by private foreign investment, both American and Asian, after a careful analysis of the risks that such investment could potentially represent for European sovereignty. The commissioner noted that the EU’s goal is to double semiconductor production within ten years (while achieving two-nanometer precision) - whereas the US wants to triple production, he conceded.
On Wednesday 22 September, ESIA, which represents the European semiconductor industry, urged the EU and Member States to launch an important project of common European interest (IPCEI) as a matter of urgency, in order to respond forcefully to major international moves in the sector.
“The industry is ready to do everything necessary, together with the Member States and the European Commission, to bring this process to a rapid conclusion”, the Association said in its statement. According to the ESIA, South Korea is considering investing $65 billion to secure its ecosystem. China is planning to inject $160 billion to meet its chip needs by 2025. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)