Establishing itself as a major player in the European chip market is the main goal of the National Semiconductor Strategy, which anticipates a threefold increase in production by 2029 and promises to double technology exports. The key factor is expected to be a two-billion-dollar investment by the American company onsemi in Moravia, which should be the Czech Republic’s largest contribution to European self-sufficiency in semiconductors. However, the road to chip independence is not easy. The Czech Republic lacks more than five thousand experts, and its current position in the global chain is rather supportive. “It’s not just about attracting investment. The real success will be creating an environment for innovation,” says Eduard Muřický, Director General of the Economy Section at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in an interview for News at BUT magazine.
What are the main objectives of the National Semiconductor Strategy and what is the timeframe for achieving them?
The main objective of the National Semiconductor Strategy is to strengthen the Czech Republic’s position in the European and global value chain of the semiconductor industry. The strategy builds on the European Chip Act and sets out five strategic objectives to be achieved by the end of 2029. These include, for example, the implementation of European measures by 2026, a 200% increase in exports of semiconductor technologies, support for research and development, an increase in the number of experts in the sector to 9,000, and a 300% increase in the production of semiconductor components compared to 2022.
The National Semiconductor Strategy is the result of extensive cooperation between the state administration, industrial partners and the academic sphere. It is our response to the European Chip Act. We wanted to define what is key for us as the Czech Republic, where we want to go so that we can pull together. The Brno University of Technology, which is a member of the consortium of the newly established Czech Semiconductor Centre, also plays an important role here. It is precisely such institutions that will be key to achieving the goals in the field of research, development and education.
What is the relationship between the Czech strategy and the European EU Chips Act initiative? Does it complement it, or are we trying to be leaders in some areas?
The Czech strategy is fully in line with the European Chips Act and complements it in many respects. The security aspect should also be mentioned. Semiconductor technologies have been classified as critical technologies for the economic security of the EU. Our goal is not only to implement European measures, but also to ensure that their implementation brings real results. The Czech Republic has joined European initiatives such as the Joint Undertaking for Chips, which is overseen by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, and the IPCEI in the field of microelectronics and communication technologies, and through these instruments we support research, development and investment in the field of semiconductors.
At the same time, however, we do not want to be merely a passive recipient of European policies. In areas such as chip design, integrated circuit design software development, and testing and diagnostics, we have the ambition to become one of the leaders. In particular, improving our ability to bring innovation to the real world is what can take us further.
How does the ministry assess the Czech Republic’s current position in the global semiconductor supply chain?
The Czech Republic has a solid starting position in the field of semiconductors, thanks in particular to companies such as onsemi, Codasip, NXP and Tescan. At present, however, we play more of a supporting role in the global supply chain. Our goal is to improve this position – not only in manufacturing, but also in chip design, software development, diagnostic tools and advanced materials. We see a great opportunity in the field of chip design, where the Czech Republic has the potential to become one of the European leaders thanks to companies such as Codasip and academic partners such as the Brno University of Technology, the Czech Technical University in Prague and others.
What obstacles are currently preventing faster development of the semiconductor ecosystem in Czechia?
The main obstacles include a shortage of skilled workers, limited production capacity and dependence on Asian suppliers. There is also a need to strengthen the infrastructure for testing and validating chips, which is key to bringing them to market. Brno has the excellent CEITEC, which, among other things, operates the cutting-edge CEITEC Nano research infrastructure. This is a key centre for semiconductor research within the CzechNanoLab national network – a laboratory enabling advanced research and development in the field of semiconductor materials, structures and technologies, including chip design and testing.
You mentioned the shortage of qualified experts in the field of semiconductors. Does the strategy respond to this problem in any way?
The shortage of qualified experts is indeed one of the biggest challenges we face. But everyone faces it. The estimated deficit in the Czech Republic is approximately 5,250 experts across the entire value chain of the semiconductor industry. This problem affects not only engineers and researchers, but also technicians, operators and other professions necessary for the operation of modern production lines. The strategy responds to this challenge in a comprehensive manner – for example, a pilot project for so-called contract financing of study programmes could start this year.
Technical universities themselves play a key role here. They are preparing new study programmes focused on semiconductors, actively cooperating with industry and participating in the development of educational modules that meet the current needs of the market. This synergy between the academic and application spheres is the key to a long-term solution to the shortage of experts. Another option is to recruit experts from abroad. The visa procedure and administrative process for work permits for these specialists has therefore been simplified.
How does the Czech Republic plan to attract foreign investment to the semiconductor sector?
Attracting strategic foreign investment is one of the pillars of our strategy. To this end, we use a combination of investment incentives, the active work of the CzechInvest agency and targeted international cooperation. As I mentioned earlier, onsemi’s planned investment of approximately USD 2 billion in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm will be the Czech Republic’s largest contribution to European self-sufficiency in semiconductors. The presentation of the Czech ecosystem abroad also plays an important role, for example through the CzechInvest office in Taipei or incoming missions by Taiwanese companies.
What would you consider to be the greatest success that this strategy can achieve?
I would consider it the greatest success if the Czech Republic manages to be a respected and stable partner in the European semiconductor ecosystem. It is not just about attracting investment or increasing exports. The real success will be creating an environment wher nd innovation will emerge, top universities will cooperate with industry, and young people will be motivated to study technical fields.
Source: Zuzana Hübnerová (News at BUT magazine)
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