IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1546580
SEPTEMBER 2026 I I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE 35 naturally kept many designers focused within their own countries or regions. A PCB designer in Germany could be solving many of the same problems as a designer in France, Italy, Sweden, or Poland without necessarily feeling part of one larger European design community. I fully believe that is changing as designers are connecting more effectively across borders, tech- nical conferences are becoming more international, and industry organizations are placing greater emphasis on design. Suppliers, fabricators, educa- tors, researchers, and designers are showing up in the same rooms and having the same conversations. PEDC, for example, deliberately brings together Europe's electronics design and research commu- nities rather than focusing on a single country or part of the electronics supply chain. In recent years, the European Union (EU) has also steadily increased its focus on electronics and semiconductor capability. The European Chips Act entered into force in September 2023, aiming to strengthen Europe's semiconductor research, manufacturing, and supply-chain resilience. In April 2025, the EU launched its AI Continent Action Plan, followed by major investments in AI factories and computing infrastructure across Europe. Then, in June 2026, the European Commission proposed Chips Act 2.0, aimed at further reducing strategic dependencies and expanding both advanced and mainstream chip design and produc- tion within Europe. At the same time, Europe has been increasing its focus on defense manufacturing. The EU intro- duced its first European Defense Industrial Strategy in March 2024, with longer-term goals tied to Euro- pean defense readiness through 2030. These initiatives show that Europe's renewed emphasis on electronics did not appear overnight. Since 2023, the pace has clearly accelerated, with semiconductors, AI, defense, advanced manufac- turing, and supply-chain security being treated as strategic capabilities. This creates an interesting situation because while Europe's PCB manufacturing base has shrunk dramatically over the past two decades, the need has grown for more sophisticated electronics. On both sides of the pond, as they say, we are recognizing that allowing large portions of Europe's electronics manufacturing capability to migrate elsewhere has come with major consequences. But rebuilding an industry takes much more than factories. It takes people who know how to turn complex technology into something that can be built. Processors, memory, sensors, RF devices, power systems, connectors, advanced packages, and thousands of other components still must come together somewhere. That somewhere is the PCB, brought together by the PCB designer. So, when I call Europe's PCB design community an awakening giant, I am not suggesting that the capability suddenly appeared. The capability, expe- rience, and engineering strength were already there. The connection between those communities, the investment surrounding them, their growing visibility, and the recognition that PCB design will play a critical role in Europe's technological future is what has changed. That future is getting more exciting by the day. I believe the push for a stronger European elec- tronics supply chain will demand more capable designers, closer collaboration, and an entirely new generation of PCB professionals. The giant is not being created; it is waking up. As Europe's designers begin to connect, collaborate, and recognize their collective strength, we may be seeing only the beginning of what this community can become. I-CONNECT007 References 1. "Challenges Facing the European PCB Industry," EIPC, March 2024. John Watson is a professor at Palomar College, San Marcos, California. To read past columns, click here. E L E M E N TA RY, M R . WATS O N