The new report from Mobile World Capital Barcelona examines the current state of the industry, identifies challenges and opportunities, and proposes strategies for strengthening the sector in Europe and Spain.
Europe holds only 10% of the global semiconductor market share.
Semiconductors are essential for technological sovereignty and digitalization. They are present in almost every economic sector and play a crucial role in international trade relations, cybersecurity, and supply chain integrity.
This situation has prompted governments such as those of the United States and Europe to take measures to strengthen their own semiconductor industry and reduce dependence on external suppliers.
Europe’s dependence on external semiconductor suppliers, mainly Asian, poses serious challenges in terms of security and economy. The recent semiconductor supply crisis highlighted the vulnerability of global supply chains and the risks associated with production concentration in a limited number of countries.
The report analyzes various initiatives driven by the European Commission and the United States, such as the Chips Act and the CHIPS and Science Act, aimed at reducing external dependency and strengthening their semiconductor industry.
It also explains how the PERTE (Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation) aims to promote the development of a Spanish ‘DeepTech’ industry to anticipate future limitations in digital manufacturing and prepare for a ‘post-silicon’ future using emerging technologies such as photonics and new materials.
The report analyzes two dominant business models: the integrated design and manufacturing model (IDM) and the fabless model.
European companies must find a balance between market focus and diversification. Europe needs dynamism to create new companies and seize opportunities. Efforts like the ‘Airbus of Chips’ aim to support the semiconductor industry, but addressing innovation and dynamism gaps remains crucial.
Discover everything about semiconductors in our new report: market insights, international context, and Europe’s strategy to reduce dependence on Asia.