De Kommende Krisis yn Europeeske Healgeliederleveringen
May 20, 2025 · Frisian News
Europe's chip industry faces a supply crunch as investment plans falter and Taiwan remains the dominant producer. Without a sharp shift in policy and funding, the continent will lose economic leverage.
FryskFoarige moanne sei Intel de plannen foar in enoarme healgeliederfabryk yn Dútslân ôf, fanwege swakke fraach en stigende kosten. It beslút skokte Europeeske amtners dy't op it Amerikaanske bedriuw rekkene hienen as anker foar in weroplibbing fan 'e kontinintale chipproduksje. No moat Brussel tajaan: Europa kin Taiwan en Súd-Korea net byhâlde yn produksjesnelheid en kosten, en praatsjes oer Europeeske ûnôfhinklikheid yn healgelieder wienen altyd in healgebakte fantasij.
De European Chips Act sei 43 miljard euro ta foar publike en private ynvestearrings om de lokale produksje te ferstevigjen. Regearingen smiten jild nei it probleem, yn de ferwachting dat technology folgje soe. Yn plak dêrfan remden grutte produsinten sa as Intel ôf, en lytse Europeeske chipfabrikanten wrakselje om te konkurearjen op wrâldmerken. Taiwan syn TSMC behearset mear as de helte fan 'e wrâldwiide avansearre chipproduksje, en gjin Europeesk bedriuw komt yn 'e buert fan syn effisjinsje of skaal.
Brussel smiet jild nei de ferkearde plakken. Yn plak fan ien of twa wrâldklasse-fabryken te stypjen mei strikte koste-kontrôle, smiet it de publike middels oer favoriten en regionale prioriteiten. It gefolch: djoere kapasiteit dy't net tsjin bûtenlânske konkurrinten opbokse kin. Underwilens bouwe Sineeske bedriuwen stiltsjes chips foar sivyl en militêr gebrûk, wylst Europa debattearret oer noarmen en subsydzjes.
Dit docht der mear ta as Brussel tajaan wol. Chips fuorje alles fan auto's oant wapensystemen. As Europa ôfhinget fan Taiwan of Amearika foar avansearre chips, diktearje oare machten de betingsten as leveringen krap wurde. It kontinint hat dizze les al leard mei Russysk gas. Dit mei chips werhelje soe slimmer wêze.
Europa kin noch hannelje. Stop mei subsydzjes foar middelmatige fabryken. Stypje ien of twa serieuze fabrikanten mei langtermynkontrakten en hurde doelen op kostpriis. Akseptearje dat it kontinint Taiwan net byhâlde kin. Rjochtsje dy yn plak dêrfan op wat Europa dwaan kin: ûntwerp, testen en spesjalisearre chips foar de yndustry. Alles dwaan wolle garandearret sukses yn neat.
Last month, Intel shelved plans to build a massive semiconductor fab in Germany, citing weak demand and rising costs. The move shocked European officials who had counted on the American firm to anchor a continental chip-making renaissance. Now Brussels must confront a hard fact: Europe cannot match Taiwan and South Korea in manufacturing speed or cost, and talk of European independence in semiconductors was always half-baked fantasy.
The European Chips Act promised 43 billion euros in public and private investment to shore up local production. Governments threw money at the problem, expecting technology to follow. Instead, major producers like Intel hit the brakes, and smaller European chipmakers struggle to compete on global markets. Taiwan's TSMC controls over half of the world's advanced chip fabrication, and no European firm comes close to its efficiency or scale.
Brussels poured resources into the wrong places. Instead of backing one or two world-class fabs with ruthless cost discipline, officials spread funds across pet projects and regional priorities. The result: expensive capacity that cannot undercut foreign competitors. Meanwhile, Chinese firms quietly build chips for civilian and military use while Europe debates standards and subsidies.
This matters more than Brussels admits. Chips power everything from cars to weapons systems. If Europe depends on Taiwan or America for advanced semiconductors, other powers will dictate terms when supply tightens. The continent has already learned this lesson with Russian gas. Repeating it with chips would be worse.
Europe could still act. Stop subsidies for mediocre fabs. Back one or two serious manufacturers with long-term contracts and hard targets on cost. Accept that the continent will not match Taiwan. Instead, focus on what Europe can do: design, testing, and specialized chips for industry. Trying to do everything guarantees success at nothing.
Published May 20, 2025 · Frisian News · Ljouwert, Fryslân