This article previews SEMI Europe’s Brussels 2026 Policy Forum. It’s shaping up to be a pivotal gathering where policymakers and industry leaders will dig into Europe’s evolving role in the global semiconductor world.
The event, set for June 3, will spotlight geopolitical shifts, supply chain resilience, and fresh policy updates. Europe’s considering a new approach to chip development and manufacturing, with the proposed Chips Act 2.0 in the spotlight.
Why Europe is recalibrating its semiconductor strategy
Under the theme “Strengthening Europe’s Compass in the Perfect Storm,” the forum will look at how geostrategic pressures are reshaping supply chains and technology development. Industrial policy is getting a serious rethink, too.
The gathering hopes to spark tighter collaboration across the semiconductor value chain, from raw materials right through to finished products. The idea is to help shield Europe from future disruptions and boost its global competitiveness.
“Geopolitics, technology, and industrial policy must be addressed together rather than in isolation,” said Laith Altimime, SEMI Europe’s president. He underscored the need for integrated strategies that actually match up with geopolitical realities.
Ajit Manocha, SEMI’s president and CEO, chimed in as well. He stressed that deeper coordination across every layer of the semiconductor value chain is key to preparing for whatever global disruptions might come next.
Key themes the forum will tackle
There’s a handful of core issues on the agenda:
- Strengthening supply chain resilience across materials, manufacturing, and logistics.
- Designing and rolling out a cohesive Chips Act 2.0 to patch up gaps in today’s framework.
- Aligning innovation strategies with geopolitical realities and regional partnerships.
- Encouraging cross-border collaborations that speed up research, development, and manufacturing scale-up.
- Boosting workforce development and talent pipelines for advanced chip technologies.
Chips Act 2.0: Closing gaps in Europe’s chip framework
One of the main topics at Brussels 2026 will be the development of a Chips Act 2.0 that tackles the current framework’s weak spots. Policymakers, economists, and industry leaders will dig into how to speed up innovation and cut bottlenecks, keeping Europe a crucial player in the global semiconductor supply chain.
They’ll consider the best ways to attract investment and streamline regulations, all while keeping security and sustainability front and center. Incentivizing research and making the industry more agile are big priorities.
What policymakers and industry leaders want to achieve
Participants will probably push for practical steps, including:
- More funding to support R&D, pilot lines, and scalable manufacturing around Europe.
- Clear governance to coordinate national and EU-level efforts and avoid fragmentation.
- Targeted incentives to build local supply chains and bring global partners into European facilities.
- Faster workforce development programs to grow the semiconductor talent pool.
- Policy alignment with security, privacy, and sustainability standards for critical technologies.
Strengthening Europe’s compass across the supply chain
The forum won’t just focus on policy. It’ll emphasize the need for resilience across the entire supply chain—from sourcing materials to distributing finished chips.
Disruptions can hit anywhere, whether it’s raw material access or shipping routes. That’s why the event will stress diversified suppliers, strong logistics, and regional manufacturing ecosystems.
Ajit Manocha’s push for deeper, end-to-end coordination reflects a bigger effort to sync up research, industrial capabilities, and regulatory practices. The aim? Help Europe withstand whatever shocks might be coming down the line.
A collaborative pathway to competitive and sustainable leadership
Nations keep jockeying for leadership in advanced chip technologies. Europe’s strategy really needs to juggle geopolitics, innovation, and industrial policy.
The event’s theme pushes a pro-business, pro-research agenda. It counts on cross-border teamwork to boost competitiveness while still keeping sustainability and security in mind.
People expect the Brussels 2026 discussions to shape a roadmap for a more unified European semiconductor scene. Maybe it’ll help Europe weather the next “perfect storm” of global uncertainty and build a more resilient, globally respected ecosystem.
For researchers, policymakers, and industry insiders, this Brussels forum feels like a turning point. Everyone’s watching for follow-up analysis and policy briefs—hopefully, they’ll turn all that talk into real strategies, investments, and partnerships for Europe’s semiconductor future.
Here is the source article for this story: SEMI forum targets Europe’s semiconductor strategy