29th April 2021
Ireland committed to work together with European Member States to bolster Europe’s processor and semiconductor ecosystem
Declaration aims to expand industrial presence across microelectronic supply chain to address key technological, security and societal challenges
This week Robert Troy TD, Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Law signed the Joint Declaration on Processors and Semiconductor Technologies. By signing, Ireland, along with 21 other Member States, agrees to work together in order to bolster Europe’s processor and semiconductor ecosystem.
The aim of the Declaration is to expand industrial presence across the microelectronics supply chain, in order to address key technological, security and societal challenges. Through the Declaration, Member States also agree to work together to strengthen Europe’s capabilities to design and eventually fabricate the next generation of trusted, low-power processors.
On signing the Declaration, the Minister said:
“On behalf of the Irish Government and as Minister of State with responsibility for Digital, I am delighted to announce that I have signed the Joint Declaration on Processors and Semiconductor Technologies.
“By signing the Declaration, Ireland is sending a strong signal to industry and to Europe that the Irish Government is committed to building on Ireland’s strengths in microelectronics and will engage with opportunities to work with other Member States to drive EU leadership in processor and semiconductor technologies.
“Ireland has an excellent track record in the area of microelectronics, in particular, in research, design and the fabrication of semiconductor wafers and silicon microprocessors. Microelectronics has deep roots in Ireland and the sector has been growing since the first wafer fabrication facility was established in 1976. Today there are over 65 organisations, including 50 enterprises, active in Ireland in the design and / or manufacture of microelectronics and semiconductor devices.”
Note for Editors
The Joint Declaration on Processors and Semiconductor Technologies aims at creating synergies among national research and investment initiatives and ensuring a coherent European approach of sufficient scale. It builds on and will expand collective efforts at a European level, including the future Key Digital Technologies (KDT) and EuroHPC Joint Undertakings, the European Processor Initiative, and the existing Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) on Microelectronics.
The signatories to the Declaration agree to work together to strengthen Europe’s capabilities to design and eventually fabricate the next generation of trusted, low-power processors, for applications in high-speed connectivity, automated vehicles, aerospace and defence, health and agri-food, AI, datacentres, integrated photonics, supercomputing, and quantum computing, amongst other initiatives to bolster the whole electronics and embedded systems value chain.
The Declaration can be found here: Joint declaration on processors and semiconductor technologies | Shaping Europe’s digital future (europa.eu)
ENDS
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) plays a key role in implementing the Government’s policies of stimulating the productive capacity of the economy and creating an environment which supports job creation and maintenance. The Department has lead responsibility for Irish policy on global trade and inward investment and a remit to promote fair competition in the marketplace, protect consumers and safeguard workers.
For further information please contact Press Office, D/Enterprise, Trade and Employment, press.office@enterprise.gov.ie or (01) 631-2200
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