In addition, one fifth of global semiconductor production is expected to come from the EU in the future.
The European Union wants to promote its digital independence. By the end of the decade, the EU countries should produce a fifth of the most modern semiconductors worldwide, according to a plan called “2030 Digital Compass” that Reuters was able to see on Monday. The EU is aiming for the first quantum computer in 5 years.
Commission Vice-President Margrethe Vestager and Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton want to officially present the project on Tuesday. This recommends investing in quantum technologies, as they are considered to be a beacon of hope in the development of new drugs and could also accelerate genome sequencing.
The corona pandemic has revealed the dependence of the 27 EU countries on key technologies that are in the hands of Chinese and American companies. With the plan, the EU wants to strengthen its economic base and secure technological sovereignty.
Wake-up call to the EU Commission
Just a few days ago, the heads of government from Germany, Estonia, Denmark and Finland contacted the EU Commission with a wake-up call. In it they write that “the dependencies and weaknesses of European digital capacities, skills and technologies” would become more and more apparent.
The heads of government are jointly concerned about Europe's digital sovereignty. They see a need for action primarily in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and new network technologies.
