The fact that the Taiwanese company TSMC wants to build a semiconductor plant in Dresden by 2027 is good news for Europe and Germany, for example, said Sarah Bäumchen from the ZVEI management board. The project strengthens the industry and international competitiveness. "The establishment in Dresden brings us an important step closer to making our semiconductor ecosystem even more powerful and resilient."

Europe's industry is particularly strong in cars and electric vehicles and industrial electronics, which are indispensable for the expansion of energy grids and for wind and solar power plants. "The demand for semiconductors will increase massively in both markets," predicted Bäumchen. The relocation will help to drive forward the green transformation and digitalization. At the same time, it is important to strengthen sovereignty in the production of downstream parts such as printed circuit boards.

Following the announcement, several economists questioned whether the economy in Germany would receive the hoped-for boost from the subsidized relocation. In July, the EU Parliament approved a law that would mobilize up to 43 billion euros for the chip industry. The investments are to come from the EU budget and the private sector, among others.

The ZVEI takes a positive view of the plan and the associated goal of strengthening Europe's semiconductor industry. "In view of the fact that semiconductors are manufactured in only a few regions worldwide, but at the same time geopolitical risks are increasing, the EU must further expand its technological sovereignty with regard to its own capacities integrated into international supply chains," explained Bäumchen. A robust semiconductor industry is essential for Europe's de-risking strategy, the avoidance of one-sided dependencies and the strengthening of Europe as an industrial location in international competition.