Europe’s leading computer chip industry group, ESIA, called on the European Union to speed up aid as it drew up a revamped “Chips Act 2.0” support package and named an envoy to champion the sector.
In a statement, the group said the chip policy under the incoming EU Commission should feature fewer export restrictions, focus on areas where European companies already had advantages, and award aid more quickly.
Major projects under the first Chips Act included a 10 billion euro ($11 billion) plant that Taiwan’s TSMC opened a new tab broke ground on last month in Dresden, and a 30 billion euro project planned by Intel, opening a new tab in Magdeburg, Germany. However, amid Intel’s business woes, the Magdeburg project has yet to win EU approval for aid and has been delayed, raising questions about whether it will be built.
On export policy, ESIA said it acknowledges the need to protect technology and ensure security. However, “a more positive approach to economic security is required based on support and incentives, rather than a defensive approach that relies on restrictive and protective measures,” it said. ASML has been barred from shipping the upper half of its product range to customers in China as the European Union and Netherlands aligned with U.S.-led restrictions aimed at slowing Chinese technological and military advances. Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof on Friday said his government would weigh ASML’s economic interests when it further tightens rules restricting exports to China.
Sources: Reuters.com
