According to data from the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), global semiconductor sales in the third quarter of 2024 increased by 23.2% year-on-year and 10.7% sequentially.
This year, fields such as AI, big data, and new energy vehicles drove the semiconductor industry’s rapid growth.
Regions around the world, including China, the United States, India, South Korea, Japan, the European Union, and Southeast Asia, are increasing their focus on semiconductors with the aim of strengthening control over the chip supply chain and securing a more favorable position in the global semiconductor market. We are making a large investment. .
Recently, the EU, Japan, and other countries announced new initiatives for semiconductor development.
EU: additional investment of €133 million in photonic chips
On November 11, the EU announced plans to invest 133 million euros to establish a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) pilot line in the Netherlands, according to the Dutch government website. This initiative aims to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness in photonics technology.
The Dutch optical integrated circuit pilot line is part of the PIXEurope project and construction is expected to begin by mid-2025. If all goes well, the development and application of photonics technology in Europe will be greatly promoted.
The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Eindhoven University of Technology and the University of Twente have already won contracts for the proposed production line, with Dutch company Smart Photonics also participating in the project.
Photonic technology is considered to be of strategic importance due to its high computational density and low energy consumption, making it an important direction for future technology development.
With the rapid growth of cloud computing, big data, AI, and IoT, the demand for faster, more efficient, and lower energy data transmission is increasing, fueling the growth of the photonic chip market.
Japan: 10 trillion yen invested in semiconductors and AI
On November 11, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced that the Japanese government will provide at least 10 trillion yen (approximately $65 billion) by fiscal 2030 to support the semiconductor and AI industries.
The funding is part of a broader plan to invest 50 trillion yen in Japan’s semiconductor industry over the next 10 years, with state support for mass production of advanced chips by companies such as Rapidus.
Lapidus is collaborating with IBM and Belgian research institute Imec, and plans to start large-scale production in Hokkaido by 2027. The project requires 5 trillion yen in production funds, and the Japanese government has already provided Lapidus with 920 billion yen in subsidies.
South Korea: Semiconductor special bill
According to Business Korea, South Korea on November 11 proposed a special law on semiconductors aimed at providing economic support to semiconductor manufacturers through legislation and granting exceptions to the 52-hour work week under certain circumstances. This bill reflects the Korean government’s strong support and commitment to the semiconductor industry.
The bill specifies a dedicated semiconductor account in order to strengthen the industry’s competitiveness and stabilize the supply chain. South Korea plans to provide advance subsidies to semiconductor manufacturers in order to encourage active investment at the decision-making stage and accelerate industry growth.
Amid international competition, South Korea is stepping up semiconductor investment through financial support, industrial park development, and technological innovation. According to Chosun Ilbo, South Korea has provided incentives and subsidies to semiconductor companies since July this year and launched a 26 trillion won funding plan to support the industry. South Korea also plans to establish a new 800 billion won fund for the semiconductor ecosystem by 2027, with an initial target of 2025 to support equity investments in materials, components, equipment, and fabless companies. will be 300 billion won.
(Photo courtesy of Smart Photonics)
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