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In an increasingly interconnected and technology-driven world, the importance of microelectronics as a foundational pillar of innovation cannot be overstated. Megatrends such as artificial intelligence or the metaverse as well as critical infrastructures such as power plants or telecommunications networks, are heavily dependent on microelectronics. At the same time, the global semiconductor chip shortage that started in 2020 showed clearly how fragile the industry’s globalized supply chains are. The increasingly tense geopolitical situation added an additional layer of uncertainty.
To reduce dependencies and secure digital sovereignty, countries around the world have set up comprehensive, multi-billion-dollar funding programs, including the EU and Germany. A comprehensive and holistic microelectronics strategy is required to guide these efforts and ensure sustainable impact. To implement this strategy, roughly € 115 billion of public and private investment is required over 10 years. Considering all synergy effects, the positive impact on the global macroeconomic situation is estimated to reach over € 3 trillion in 2035. This report presents such a potential strategy for Germany, consisting of four coherent strategic programs.
We identified 14 strategic options to strengthen Germany’s digital sovereignty which can be clustered in the four coherent programs, based on their thematic similarity and implementation synergies.
By pursuing the strategic options presented in this report, Germany and Europe can lay a solid foundation for a holistic and sustainable microelectronics strategy, enhancing their digital sovereignty while driving innovation and fostering a thriving microelectronics ecosystem. Implementation, however, will require substantial investment and commitment from both government and industry. The government has to ignite the spark with targeted measures and support the ecosystem in coordinating and steering the efforts. Both sides have to invest strategically in the future of the industry and in Germany’s digital sovereignty. However, the industry has to align and take ownership of the strategy implementation. It is time to join forces.
Marcus Gloger, Stanislav Huley, Dr. Richard Weller, Julian Höhler, Ruoyu Jiang, Jan Philipp Otter, Kerstin Rohde, and Adrian Roseanu also contributed to this report.