The EU Commission promised that every
Chips Act project will be carefully vetted on
anticompetitive grounds, but that the sheer size of
setting up production facilities demand a push if
the bloc is to become a global player.
“Europe needs advanced production facilities,
which come, of course, with a huge upfront cost.
We are therefore adapting our state aid rules,” said
von der Leyen.
Now, EU nations only have 9% of the global
market share of semiconductors, and von der
Leyen wants to increase that to 20% by 2030.
Because global market production is expected
to about double over the same time, “it means
basically quadrupling our eforts,” she said.
She said the plan will add 15 billion euros ($17
billion) in public and private investment on top of
funds already committed in the EU’s budget.
The EU also wants to get involved in chip
production for geopolitical reasons and become
more resilient in its strategic independence.
Still, von der Leyen did hold out her hand for
cooperation.
“Europe will build partnerships on chips with like-
minded partners, for example, the United States
or, for example, Japan,” she said.