Semiconductor industry to discuss how Europe can remain competitive
One of the topics for discussion will involve the transition from 300mm wafers to 450mm wafers and from UV lithography to EUV lithography
The competitiveness of Europe's semiconductor industry and the efforts to agree on a single European semiconductor strategy will be the paramount topics at the ISS Europe (Industry Strategy Symposium) 2013, hosted by SEMI Europe.
The range of subjects reflects the current global trends dominating the worldwide semiconductor industry and the urgency for the European industry to increase its competitiveness and market-share.
SEMI serves the manufacturing supply chain for the micro and nanoelectronics industry. The industries, companies, and people SEMI represents are the architects of the electronics revolution.
SEMI members are responsible for the innovations and technologies that enable smarter, faster, more powerful, and more affordable electronic products and devices that bring the power of the digital age to more people every day.
Its European branch, SEMI Europe, bundles the forces of the European industry involved in semiconductor-related research and development as well as manufacturing across the entire value chain.
ISS Europe will take place from February 24th to February 26th in Stresa near Milano (Italy). At the symposium, top executives from the European semiconductor industry and senior EC officials will, against the background of Europe's dwindling share in the global semiconductor business, fathom out the options to determine a single European industry strategy.
As the global semiconductor industry continues to make progress on the semiconductor roadmap towards smaller geometries and larger wafer sizes, the investments necessary to build and run leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing facilities are exploding.
The next technology step will involve the transition from 300mm wafers to 450mm wafers and from UV lithography to EUV lithography. Both transitions require capital investments in the double-digit billion-dollar range - certainly a serious challenge for Europe's fragmented semiconductor landscape.
During the past years, the 'More than Moore' strategy has enabled the European semiconductor industry to meet the demand of important vertical markets better than ever before by providing products custom-made for the needs of these industries.
Examples for such markets are the Automotive industry and Industry Automation. In technology segments associated to the More than Moore strategy, in particular MEMS and intelligent sensors, semiconductor manufacturers with domicile in Europe have reached global technology leadership. The ISS offers an excellent platform to further develop this strategy.
In this market and technology environment, discussions run high about the best way to prepare for the future. This situation has led to calls for a different industry policy - for example the "Key Enabling Technologies" initiative, which suggests to fund not only research and development but also pilot projects in manufacturing.
Discussing ways to bundle forces in a single strategy that has the potential to take on the technological, financial and entrepreneurial challenges ahead will be the topic of a high ranking panel discussion at the conference.
The participants at this panel represent leading edge technology organisations including nanoelectronics research institutes CEA-LETI (France) and Imec (Belgium), semiconductor manufacturers STMicroelectronics and Soitec, equipment manufacturer ASML and the European Commission.
The strengthening the competitiveness of Europe's semiconductor industry is also the topic of further presentations at the event. Malcolm Penn, CEO of the renowned British market intelligence company Future Horizons, discusses the strategic options of Europe's semiconductor industry against the background of the global market development.
Thomas Hueck, Chief Economist of German electronics giant Robert Bosch GmbH, will in his presentation sketch ways to restore growth. Other presentations, equally relevant to semiconductor industry professionals, will be dedicated to technologies and technology management strategies including manufacturing infrastructure, new materials for ICs, yield management and the impact of LED lighting to the electronics industry.
ISS Europe will be held at the Hotel Regina Palace in Stresa near Milano (Italy). This conference offers a unique opportunity to interact with top-level representatives from the entire semiconductor value chain and to network among customers, business partners and peers.
