ESRA semiconductor alliance annual meeting coincided with the launch of the Chips Act 2 initiative
The Chair of the Regional Board of Pirkanmaa, Roope Lehto, delivered our region’s statement at the ESRA annual meeting in Brussels, while also warmly welcoming the alliance’s new members. The event organised by ESRA’s chairing region Catalonia took place at a fitting moment, as the European Commission published the Chips Act 2.0 initiative on the same day.
Members of the European Semiconductor Regions Alliance ESRA gathered in Brussels on 3 June for the alliance’s annual meeting. Due to a strike at Brussels Airport, some participants faced challenges in arriving, but despite this, a good number of regional representatives and other guests gathered at Catalonia’s premises.
The official greetings from Pirkanmaa were delivered by the Chair of the Regional Board, Roope Lehto. He highlighted the positive development and growth of ESRA in recent years, and at the same time warmly welcomed three new members. The ESRA presidency will change at the end of the year in Tampere, when Catalonia hands over the baton to Pirkanmaa.
From the European Parliament, a speech was delivered by Vice-President Javi Lopez. He emphasised the importance of regions and stated that the Parliament strongly supports the Commission’s view on strengthening the role of regions. Lopez also highlighted the view that SMEs and start-ups must also be able to benefit from pilot lines and other semiconductor infrastructure. The Secretary-General of the European Committee of the Regions, Thomas Wobben, also emphasised the central role of regions in the development of the European semiconductor sector and congratulated ESRA on its excellent work.
Petri Räsänen, Director of the Chips from Tampere programme, praised the chairing region Catalonia for an excellent event on a great day. “For the first time in EU policy actions, regions have such a significant role as part of the implementation and governance structure of the regulation. This is an important recognition of ESRA’s work and reflects good cooperation,” Räsänen commented.
Chips Act 2.0 was published at the same time as the annual meeting
One of ESRA’s biggest advocacy priorities this year is naturally the Chips Act 2.0. The Commission published its proposal for the regulation conveniently on the same day as the annual meeting. The proposal was presented by the Commission’s Pierre Chastanet.
The Commission’s proposal builds strongly on the first part of the Chips Act. The first part was a response to Europe’s vulnerabilities in critical supply chains, aiming to develop infrastructure and increase supply. The second part now published aims to increase demand, for example by making use of the infrastructure being developed.
A significant provision for ESRA and Pirkanmaa is also the European Semiconductor Region of Excellence label, which a region can obtain by demonstrating strategic commitment and readiness to receive foreign semiconductor investments. Regions holding these labels will form a network partly facilitated by the Commission, the purpose of which is to promote interregional cooperation, disseminate best practices also beyond network members, and attract foreign investment to Europe.
With the Commission’s proposal now published, ESRA continues active dialogue with the European Parliament and the Council of the Member States while refining the provisions of the regulation. As Vice-Chair of the alliance, Pirkanmaa has a central role in coordinating ESRA’s advocacy work in Brussels.
