The announcement made by the European Commission in May launching the proposal of a joint European strategy to foster micro- and nano-electronics, based on public investment in the sector of micro- and nano-electronics has been welcomed by the industry. The strategy aims to develop Europe’s industrial base for advanced technology.
The European Commission’s decision reinforces the position of the ecosystem of Grenoble and the Rhône-Alpes region in the electronics sector, which aims to become one of the world’s three largest ecosystems for micro- and nano-technologies.
The European Commission has included in its new strategy the reinforcement of four European world-class electronics clusters – Minalogic (Grenoble), DSP Valley (Leuven – Belgium), High Tech NL (Eindhoven – Netherlands) and Silicon Saxony (Dresden – Germany).
In line with the European Commission’s objectives, these four clusters have formed an inter-cluster alliance known as “Silicon Europe”, in order to consolidate Europe’s position as a world leader in energy-efficient micro-electronics..
The first concrete step in implementing the strategy came when the European Commission announced in May the selection of five pilot lines to reinforce European competitiveness in electronics. Two of these pilot lines concern the Grenoble ecosystem: AGRATE, located in Bernin not far from Grenoble; and Places2Be, located both in Grenoble and Dresden, Germany.
Key Enabling Technologies – an essential driver for growth, industrial competitiveness and the European recovery
Micro- and nano-electronics, which have been identified by Europe as Key Enabling Technologies, play a fundamental role in strategic sectors such as energy, the automotive industry and healthcare. The technologies are essential to the challenges that society faces, and as such contribute to the development of innovative products and the applications of the future.
“We are delighted with Europe’s acknowledgement of the weight that Grenoble carries in micro-electronics, and of the need for major investment in the sector in the Rhône-Alpes region. We need to promote the expertise of our Smart Valley outside Europe because we possess the technological capability to rival the world’s biggest micro- and nano-technology clusters,” explains Jean Chabbal, Chief Representative of Minalogic.
“Based on the strength of its public research, its researchers and engineers, the ambition of its entrepreneurs, and given the broad consensus on the importance of technological innovation and the public resources dedicated to it, France must seize this unique opportunity to make the most of the strong growth in innovative industries.”
Minalogic
