Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1543584
8 SMT007 MAGAZINE I MARCH 2026 F E AT U R E I N T E RV I E W BY N O L A N J O H N S O N , I - C O N N ECT0 07 A Critical Moment for Europe's Electronics Ecoystem As Europe reexamines its industrial strat- egy amid geopolitical shifts, how does electronics become a critical priority? In this interview, Alison James, senior director Europe, government rela- tions, at the Global Electronics Association, explains how industry advocacy is influencing the review of the European Chips Act, and why the conver- sation must extend beyond semiconductors to include PCBs, EMS, and complete systems. With 27 member states to align, can policy move fast enough to secure Europe's electronics future? Nolan Johnson: Alison, let's start our conversation with an update on legislative efforts regarding the European Union's redevelopment of an electronics manufacturing infrastructure. Alison James: It starts with the industry call to action we made to the new European Commission in 2024, stating that we needed to put electron- ics at the heart of Europe's strategic interests and focus. That electronics strategy includes supply- and-demand instruments, and ensuring we have the electronics required for our critical industries. That was the starting point for everything that we look to do in the European Union. In other words, we laid out a roadmap in the call to action. So, what's happening? First, we have made the critical case for an instrument that enables the build- ing up of the electronics value chain—not only semi- conductor chips, but also printed circuit boards and assemblies. We must be able to make the electronic systems for critical industries, including defense, security-critical infrastructure, and industries linked to the digital green transition. So, supply chain resil- ience is central. The European Chips Act is currently under review. As part of that, the European Commission asked us to organize a workshop with PCB fabricators and assemblers, something that hadn't happened before. They told us, "We've heard what you said, and we want to understand the situation, concerns, and interests of the PCB and EMS industries." Just before Christmas, we gathered companies across Europe for a workshop with the Commission. In January, we met with the political cabinet and emphasized the need for the Chips Act Plus, so there are multiple things happening simultaneously.