Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1512467
38 SMT007 MAGAZINE I DECEMBER 2023 Feature Interview by Nolan Johnson I-CONNECT007 I recently spoke with IPC's Chris Mitchell, VP of global government relations, and Rich Cappetto, senior director for North American government relations. Rich joined IPC this summer aer serving as chief customer officer of the U.S. House of Representatives; he holds a master's degree in defense and strategic stud- ies from the U.S. Naval War College. I asked Chris and Rich to share their views on government investment in PCB manufac- turing in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. ey dis- cuss how U.S. companies can tap into some of the federal and state funding, some of which remains unclaimed. Nolan Johnson: Chris and Rich, from your roles in IPC Government Relations, I'm sure you have unique perspectives on the interre- lationships between the economy and incentive legislation. What are you seeing at the moment? Chris Mitchell: Here in the U.S., we talk mostly about the CHIPS Act, but there are initia- tives underway elsewhere in the world. Ear- lier this year, Europe finalized its own version of the CHIPS Act. Japan is also making its own big investments in its domestic chip industry. ere is fierce global competition for leader- ship in the semiconductor industry. Here and Abroad, Governments Investing in Industry