17 EU members outlined their chip and embedded systems development initiative in a public statement titled "A European Initiative on Processors and Semiconductor Technologies". In reality the situation is more complicated than that described in the title, but we will try to clarify it as much as possible. To start, however, you need some basic notions or better than General information that allow to frame the speech in the best way. So let's go see what happened in Europe in recent days and try to understand the because.
Why has Europe decided to collaborate in the field of microchips? There are several reasons
The EU decision of give the chip development priority it makes sense since semiconductors are the basis of digital transformation and technological progress. An ecosystem (not exclusively) based on the production of microchips is the basis of a thriving economy, in a perspective where Europe could play a key role. This is possible only if you reach high, very high levels, on a par with Chinese and US companies that have a monopoly on these products. But we will get there. The important thing is to understand because the European Union has decided to move in this way. There are three reasons:
- the US-China trade war: the so-called trade war between the two most important and powerful economic poles on earth has caused havoc in the world of semiconductors. The two superpowers have hit each other with ever-increasing tariffs and costs on exports and this has not benefited the purchases by other states. By creating a chain in the European Union, the members of the organization could avoid repercussions in the event of such conflicts;
- the coronavirus pandemic: unfortunately the coronavirus that has brought the economy to its knees around the world has made us understand how fragile the global supply chain of these microprocessors is. If the main producer (US or China) has difficulties, the world suffers immediately. It is therefore necessary to form a third pole to manage a possible third "apocalypse" of this kind;
- national independence: Many nations including Taiwan, India, South Korea as well as China and the USA have recently launched national initiatives to strengthen their national independence.
Times and costs of realization
The statement mentions the use of funds from the European Recovery and Resilience Facility (a package of 67 billion euros) to financially support the project. It also indicates the 2025 as the date by which some of its electronic components development plans are expected to be implemented. These announcements were made only last week, so the project will still need time to get off the ground properly. But if Europe keeps its promises, we are sure that (and this concerns the end users) at the end of the story i machinery costs e smartphones will be reduced as it is not necessary to buy from abroad.
Which countries of Europe are participating?
Austria, France, Finland, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus and Estonia
