The European Forum for Electronic Components and Systems (EFECS 2024) took place in the historic city of Ghent, Belgium, from December 5th to 6th, 2024. It brought together industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, and innovators, highlighting Europe’s commitment toward strategic leadership in semiconductor technology, with collaborative approaches that will drive growth and innovation across the sector.
EFECS 2024 presented an important opportunity to discuss how Europe can improve its competitiveness toward strategic autonomy at a time when demand for high-end chip technologies is increasing globally. Central to this ambition is the Chips Joint Undertaking: a main initiative to reinforce European leadership in electronic components and systems, and stimulate collaborative research and innovation. It has indeed been an important workshop on how Chips JU addresses the challenges that society and industry are confronted with, and how such resilient supply chains, innovative technologies, and strategic investments remain important.
The event consisted of various keynote speeches and panel discussions on relevant topics related to automotive innovation, Edge AI, health technologies, and green electronics. The experts showcased the opportunity provided by the new pilot lines established under the Chips for Europe Initiative, from nanoelectronics and advanced packaging to quantum technologies. These sessions showed the need for collaboration across sectors so that Europe stays at the edge in the development of technologies.
The importance of cross-sector standardisation and interoperability emerged as recurring themes, particularly as Europe seeks to integrate new technologies into everyday applications. Discussions highlighted the need for smooth communication between devices, platforms, and systems, ensuring that innovations in sectors like energy, automotive, and health can operate effectively within a unified ecosystem.
The CEI-Sphere project was present at EFECS 2024, observing and engaging with the latest developments in Cloud-Edge-IoT standardisation. The event was insightful for the CEI-Sphere’s mission to align Europe’s computing continuum with the evolving needs of the electronics industry. The insights gathered from the discussions at EFECS will be useful for CEI-Sphere’s ongoing work, particularly as the project refines its strategies for large-scale pilots and cross-domain integration.
The event ended in a call for continued cooperation between industry, research, and policy communities. As Europe faces increasing competition in the global semiconductor market, events like EFECS 2024 highlight the power of unity, innovation, and strategic investment in shaping a competitive, adaptable future.
