European Chips Diversity Alliance

ongoing

Semiconductors and microchips (chips) are everywhere: from medical equipment, computers and smart-phones, to airplanes and cars, chips enable any daily activity of modern life. Pandemic-related value chain disruptions and recent geopolitical upheavals highlighted Europe’s technological dependency, pushing the EU Commission to launch the Chips Act to double EU’s global market share in chips to 20% by 2030 and ensure EU's technological sovereignty. Approved in April 2023, the Chips Act will attract investments and support the establishment of large-scale chips production facilities that will generate long-term jobs and require skilled workers. The EU chips sector is undermined by the lack of skilled labor: such shortage is currently being addressed by initiatives such as the Pact for Skills for microelectronics launched by the EU Commission – jointly with SEMI Europe, the Applicant of this proposal. Nonetheless, a shortcoming lies in the fact that the EU chips sector is still considerably male-dominated. Enhanced DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION (DEI) across education, training and industry will empower the “MISSING TALENT” to actively participate in the forthcoming acceleration of the EU chips sector. Against this backdrop, the EU Chips Diversity Alliance project represents an innovative and robust alliance between HE, VET and industry to lower barriers to participation for under-represented groups that represent the MISSING TALENT for the competitiveness and growth of the EU chips sector, by: - formalising the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Advisory Council under the Pact for Skills; - developing an innovative methodology to assess the landscape of DEI in the EU chips sector, gauge DEI trends and dynamics and monitor progress; - developing innovative training in line with EQF, ESCO, Europass; - developing operational tools to implement DEI in HE, VET and industry; - implementing innovative engagement programmes (DEI Pioneer Award, Mentorship, Ambassadorship).