Arthur T Knackerbracket has processed the following story:
A coalition of nine European Union countries, led by the Netherlands, has been formed to accelerate plans for a potential second funding package under the European Chips Act. This initiative aims to present proposals by summer, following the mixed results of the 2023 Chips Act, which, despite preventing a decline in Europe's industry, failed to meet its key objectives due to slow approval processes and less state support than that provided by the U.S. and China.
Dutch Economy Minister Dirk Beljaarts emphasized the need for a more targeted approach in the potential second funding program. "We need to allocate funds," Beljaarts told Reuters. "Both private and public funds to push the sector, also to make sure that the trickle-down effect takes place and that (small and medium-size) companies also benefit." This strategy aims to address gaps in areas such as chip packaging and advanced production, particularly after Intel shelved plans for a cutting-edge factory in Germany.
The coalition, which includes Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the Netherlands, is focused on three main priorities: enhancing production capabilities, mobilizing public and private investment, and fostering talent within the sector.
Europe boasts strong research and development capabilities, with companies like ASML leading the chipmaking-tools market. However, the region lags behind in advanced chip production, with only Intel utilizing cutting-edge technology in Ireland. The industry's stakeholders include major chip manufacturers like Bosch, Infineon, NXP, and STMicroelectronics, along with equipment suppliers ASML and ASM.
Following a meeting in Brussels, organizations such as ESIA and SEMI Europe are set to formally propose their needs to the European Commission's digital official, Henna Virkkunen. Their requests include direct support for semiconductor design, manufacturing, R&D, materials, and equipment.
The European Chips Act, launched in 2023, aimed to reduce Europe's dependence on foreign semiconductor supplies and bolster the region's technological sovereignty. However, it has faced challenges, including a scarcity of skilled workers and slow approval processes.
The Act has a total investment goal of €43 billion, with the Chips Joint Undertaking playing a pivotal role in bridging the gap between research and commercialization. Despite these efforts, critics argue that government intervention may not be the most effective strategy, as it can distort competition and favor inefficient producers.
(Score: 3, Disagree) by Snotnose on Wednesday March 26, @12:51PM (7 children)
He's gotten Europe to pull it's collective act together. They're finally funding NATO, defending Ukraine, and looking out for their common interests.
The fact he accomplished this by being a major twatwaffle is surely just a beneficial side effect.
Of course I'm against DEI. Donald, Eric, and Ivanka.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by janrinok on Wednesday March 26, @01:17PM (5 children)
The fact that he has accomplished this by destabilizing Europe, making the place more dangerous for numerous countries in the future, and encouraging an enemy whose intent is to restructure Europe into something similar to what it was 30 years ago isn't a beneficial side effect.
We had this discussion over the last weekend [soylentnews.org]. I suggest you read the discussion there before claiming that this has achieved something beneficial.
I am not interested in knowing who people are or where they live. My interest starts and stops at our servers.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Username on Wednesday March 26, @01:56PM (1 child)
I'm fully ok with being allies with Russia over the Germany. The EU does nothing but bash the united states. I'm sure if they ran a poll on whether they like the US, it would be something like 10%. Russians on the other hand, has a more favorable view.
I'm ok with taking greenland and the uk too. Russia can have eastern Europe.
(Score: 0, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 27, @12:40AM
You are the worst kind of person; advocating for conquering peaceful nations for profit from the safety of your mom's basement. What an asshat!
(Score: 3, Funny) by Snotnose on Wednesday March 26, @02:05PM (2 children)
You misunderstand me. The Tangerine Twatwaffle is an unmitigated disaster. But even a bull in a china shop occasionally does something good.
Of course I'm against DEI. Donald, Eric, and Ivanka.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 26, @03:56PM
Some prefer to call him Agent Orange.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Freeman on Wednesday March 26, @09:01PM
A "Bull in a China Shop" is actually a lot less destructive than you might think.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythBusters_(2007_season) [wikipedia.org]
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 4, Informative) by gnuman on Wednesday March 26, @08:53PM
That's NOT how NATO works!! How many times does it have to said for morons like Trump and others to understand?
No one is paying much money to NATO. The funding they talk about is funding to national militarizes. So, like German Army. So Germans must fund their army better now. And same for others. And how will they do that? By boosting EU military industrial complex and shutting out US's one as it's no longer considered "trustworthy". There's talk that Trump could have a "disable" button for US sourced weapons. No one is trusting US anymore. This means the 1% german GDP that earlier went to fund US military complex and its jobs, will now be 3 or 4% of GDP that will go to fund Rheinmetall, SAB, Airbus and related EU based companies.
And now EU wants to co-ordinate military capabilities inside EU. Basically, have a useful single military capability than a bunch of tiny ones.
So, yes, success. But US will lose its export market and gain competitors in form of Europe. And if US is not "trustworthy" and even worse, turns it back on Europe, then Europe will probably join up with China economically a lot more and definitely it will not be helpful in the entire US-China policy ... that's $30T GDP that falls away from US influence.
oops.
so much success that Putin is smiling and Kremlin media is orgasmic.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by AnonTechie on Wednesday March 26, @08:50PM (3 children)
Europe needs to go beyond and ensure that they are self-reliant in many other sectors as well. Most important of these are energy, armaments, satellite navigation (GPS independent of USA) and satellite internet.
Albert Einstein - "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
(Score: 3, Touché) by gnuman on Wednesday March 26, @08:57PM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_(satellite_navigation) [wikipedia.org]
You mean this one, that has better precision than GPS and is free for anyone to use?
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Satellite_navigation/Android_smartphone_app_connects_you_to_Galileo [esa.int]
(Score: 2) by corey on Wednesday March 26, @09:52PM (1 child)
Yeah.
> However, the region lags behind in advanced chip production, with only Intel utilizing cutting-edge technology in Ireland.
Intel are only there because it’s a tax haven.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Thursday March 27, @08:58AM
Note ASML, a small Dutch company. If EU is pissed off too much (eg in re Greenland), then who knows? maybe US will need to invent something on their own.
Or maybe buy from China next year [eenewseurope.com]. Because colleges, and higher education in US in general, are woke and will be defunded.
https://www.youtube.com/@ProfSteveKeen https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford