21st February 2024 |
Closed Consultations
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is seeking the views of stakeholders to inform the development of a national semiconductor strategy.
The strategy will aim to capitalise on opportunities for the semiconductor sector at EU level and set an ambition and direction for activity in the sector. The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney, invites you to partake in this public consultation process, which focuses on the measures and initiatives Ireland can introduce to take full advantage of the opportunities presented by the European Chips Act, and to meet ambitions for the sector.
Background
Semiconductors (‘chips’) are ubiquitous in our daily lives, and they are needed in almost every vital sector and service. The brains of modern electronics, semiconductors are crucial components in the production of nearly all electronics and machinery we rely upon on a day-to-day basis, including mobile phones, computers, cars and servers, as well as being essential for other sectors of the economy, such as the production of ICT equipment, for medical devices, in aeronautics and so on.
Due to their use as inputs in manufacturing, semiconductors are at the core of a large proportion of economic activity, making the sector’s performance integral to the outlook for the global economy. Furthermore, demand for semiconductors is set to soar over the coming years for their use in artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and cloud computing. Semiconductors will also be critical for the green transition due to their role in the provision of green energy and the electrification of industry.
It is within this context that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is launching a stakeholder consultation to inform a national semiconductor strategy. The focus of this consultation will be on the measures and initiatives Ireland can introduce to take full advantage of the opportunities posed by the EU Chips Act, and to meet ambitions for the sector.
Key themes
Stakeholder views are welcome from interested parties, including manufacturing industry, SMEs, the research community, and other interested stakeholders. Submissions should be structured according to the themes outlined below, responding to one or more of the themes as appropriate:
- Aspirations for the sector – What are stakeholders’ aspirations for Ireland’s semiconductor industry in the coming years?
- Opportunities for the sector – What do stakeholders identify as key opportunities for the sector to further develop?
- Challenges facing businesses and the sector – What are the key challenges facing individual businesses in the semiconductor sector? What are the overarching challenges facing Ireland’s semiconductor sector as a whole?
- Access to talent for businesses – What skills needs (across the spectrum of training, education and research) will arise for the sector in the coming years?
- Barriers to development – What barriers might prevent both individual businesses and the sector as a whole from meeting its aspirations?
- Mitigation – What are potential mitigating actions that could be taken (and by whom) to address the challenges and barriers identified?
Submissions
Views from stakeholders and interested parties are requested no later than 5pm Friday, 15 March 2024.
Submissions should be marked 'National Semiconductor Strategy Consultation' and emailed to chips@enterprise.gov.ie.
Freedom of Information Act 2014 and publication of submissions
The department will make public on its website all submissions received under this consultation. Your attention is also drawn to the fact that information provided to the department may be disclosed in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2014. Therefore, should you consider that any information you provide is commercially sensitive, please identify same, and specify the reason for its sensitivity. The department will consult with you regarding information identified by you as sensitive before publishing or otherwise disclosing it.
General Data Protection Regulation
Respondents should note that the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) entered into force in Ireland on 25 May 2018 and it is intended to give individuals more control over their personal data. The key principles under the regulation are as follows:
- lawfulness, fairness and transparency
- purpose limitation
- data minimisation
- accuracy
- storage limitation
- integrity and confidentiality
- accountability
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is subject to the provisions of the regulation in relation to personal data collected by it from 25 May 2018. Any personal information which you volunteer to this department, will be treated with the highest standards of security and confidentiality, strictly in accordance with the Data Protection Acts 1988 to 2018.
Topics:
Trade and Investment