March 16, 2026 -
By Neil Tyler, NewElectronics
The European Chips Act, which came into force in September 2023, is beginning to have a tangible impact on how semiconductors are researched, manufactured and funded across the European Union, as the bloc looks to reduce its reliance on overseas suppliers and strengthen the resilience of critical supply chains.
The legislation represents one of the EU’s most significant industrial policy interventions in decades and aims to double Europe’s share of global semiconductor production from less than 10% to 20% by 2030.
The Chips Act is built around three core pillars. The first, the Chips for Europe Initiative, supports research, innovation and pilot manufacturing. It is designed to bridge the gap between laboratory research and industrial deployment by funding advanced pilot lines, design platforms, competence centres and quantum chip development.