SEMI v Final DR 18/12/08 10:53 Page 19
BUSINESS NEWS
19
At a recent European forum initiated by industry
association SEMI there were calls for industry
intervention as SEMI Europe called on the European
Union and European national governments to
invest in the semiconductor industry to
ensure continental access to future
technology. The recent financial
crisis has only strengthened the
call.
SEMI warns against
European inaction
T
he 3rd SEMI Brussels Forum was held on 9-10 for the competitiveness of Europe in general as it is an enabling
December by SEMI Europe (Semiconductor industry for other key European industry segments such as
Equipment and Materials International) with the automotive, telecommunication, energy, and e-health. For
participation of ESIA (European Semiconductor Industry instance, Germany depends on modern ICT applications for 80%
association) to call on EU and national policymakers to invest to of their exports. While 20% of the cost in these high value-add
support the European semiconductor industry given the primary products comes form electronics, 100% of their performance and
importance of the industry to the health and global innovation comes from electronics. The semiconductor industry is
competitiveness of the EU economy. a driver of innovation, and the service industry it powers
The forum gathered 142 people representing the various represents 10% of the GDP.
stakeholders, and the presence of senior executives from the
industry clearly demonstrates both their concern and support. In
total 16 countries were represented including Russia, Israel and
UAE. National Governments: Deputy Mayor of Dresden and
Grenoble, Former senator Claude Saunier (author of the report
from the French Parliamentary Office for the Evaluation of
Scientific and Technological Choices – The evolution of the micro
and nanoelectronics sector); R&D and Universities: IMEC,
Minalogic, Fraunhofer, CEA-Leti, UCD Dublin, TNO, IET;
Clusters: Point One, Silicon Saxony (Germany), AEPI (France);
other associations: JEMI France, JEMI UK, NMI, ESIA,
ENIAC, CORDIS, AENEAS.
The SEMI European Advisory Board made eight visits to the
European Parliament and Commission (DG Trade, DG
Information Society and Media, DG Enterprise and Industry, DG
Internal Market) on 9 December, in total reaching out to over 40 One of the highlights of the 3rd SEMI Brussels Forum was
people from the European Commission. These visits were the visit by the SEMI European Advisory Board to Viviane
important to keep reminding the European Commission of the Reding, European Commission vice-president. Heinz
importance of the semiconductor industry, not just for itself, but Kundert presented her with a 300mm wafer
December 2008 / January 2009 www.euroasiasemiconductor.com
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68