A new blueprint for EC backing for the European semiconductor industry is being thrashed out by the European vice president for enterprise and industry Gunter Verheugen, and the CEOs of STMicroelectronics, NXP Semiconductors and Freescale Semiconductor.
"We had an open and frank discussion with a highly engaged Commission vice-president, and look forward to advancing the common issue of enhancing the competitiveness of Europe's semiconductor industry, possibly through creation of a European sectoral policy for semiconductors," said Frans van Houten, CEO of NXP and president of the European Semiconductor Industry Association.
'In its Competitiveness Report for 2008, the ESIA recommends establishing micro-/nanoelectronics as the overriding priority for EU-wide R&D efforts', says ESIA's report on the discussions, 'it also insists on increased funding levels by both the EU and Member States to keep pace with the increasing R&D requirements and global competitor regions. Efficient and effective R&D tax credit incentives based on best practises are one of the tools to be applied.
The ESIA is recommending that resources be focused on such areas as: greener environment and energy efficiency, safety and telematics in automotive, intelligent road systems, eSociety, eGovernment and eHealth, and increased broadband access to the home and on the move.
R&D targets should be, says the ESIA's Competitiveness Report, in the areas of: multichip/multi-component packaging developing advanced algorithms for embedded systems tools and methods to close the design gap between the capability of silicon and the limitations of design tools software driven system design systems specification and validation and complex architectures.
"A perfect example for such an innovative breakthrough is the electrification of the powertrain in cars enabled by semiconductors, providing competitive advantage to the automotive industry" said Denis Griot, senior VP for the global automotive segment at Freescale.
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