Microelectronics

Microelectronics has become an integral part of our everyday lives. It is not only found in smartphones and cars – it also regulates our energy supply, our production, and our digital communication. It is crucial for Germany’s prosperity, competitiveness and national security. The High-Tech Agenda Germany is leading our country out of dependency and towards the forefront of innovative chip design in Europe.

Foundation of the digital world

Microelectronics encompasses the development and manufacture of electronic components such as chips, microprocessors and sensors. It is necessary for the operation of digital technologies – and therefore affects almost all areas of our lives. It also lays the foundation for the development of other future technologies that are the focus of the High-Tech Agenda Germany: powerful AI, quantum technologies, climate-neutral energy supply, and mobility are inconceivable without the appropriate microelectronics.

Our objectives

The High-Tech Agenda Germany pursues four central goals in microelectronics:

1. We enable high-performance chips ‘Designed in Germany’ and turn Germany into the European centre for chip design.

2. We are specifically strengthening the transfer from the laboratory to industrial implementation in growth areas and establishing an ecosystem for advanced semiconductor technologies in Germany and Europe.

3. We are increasing the market share of German and European microelectronics companies and enhancing our technological sovereignty.

4. We are strengthening the resilience of supply chains and reducing critical dependencies in chip supply.

Germany is already the largest microelectronics location in the EU. This is a decisive advantage, as demand for high-performance chips is growing rapidly. A lack of expertise in manufacturing high-performance chips, high energy prices, and a shortage of skilled workers are currently preventing us from strengthening our position in the chip market.

© Adobe Stock/Gorodenkoff

Our measures

To meet these challenges, the High-Tech Agenda Germany provides for targeted initiatives and investments. We will establish a Competence Centre for Chip Design by 2026. In 2025, we will host a challenge on open-source tools to establish a vibrant design ecosystem. Most notably, we are supporting the development of smart and energy-efficient AI chips and their application in key industries such as the automotive and engineering sectors. At the Research Fab Microelectronics, we are promoting the transfer of science into industrial implementation (‘Lab to Fab’ Accelerator) by offering small and medium-sized enterprises access to modern technologies.

To give Germany greater sovereignty in microelectronics and make it an attractive investment location, we are creating a clear strategy, new factories, and a better-trained skilled workforce through the new Microtec Academy. We are also securing existing supply chains and intensifying our cooperation with international partners in order to reduce the risks of technological and geopolitical dependencies.

Outlook

Microelectronics offers enormous opportunities for innovation and value-creation. Through targeted investments and the expansion of partnerships, research, and production capacities, we are investing not only in Germany’s market leadership, but also in our security, ability to act, and quality of life.