Europe's Semiconductor Strategy: The European Chips Act, Strategic Autonomy and Supply-Chain Resilience

This paper examines the European Chips Act (Regulation (EU) 2023/1781) as the European Union’s policy response to semiconductor supply-chain vulnerability and strategic dependence. It analyses the policy problem underlying Europe’s semiconductor dependence, the emergence of semiconductors as a strategic EU priority, and the three pillars of the European Chips Act. Particular attention is given to the Chips for Europe Initiative, semiconductor manufacturing capacity, security of supply, crisis coordination and implementation monitoring. The paper also applies a Theory of Change to examine how public investment, research infrastructure, design capabilities, pilot lines, competence centres and financing support are expected to strengthen European semiconductor innovation, manufacturing capability and economic resilience