Semiconductor Talent Gap in Focus at “Accelerating Europe’s Tech Advantage” Forum in Brussels on Oct.2

SEMI Europe, alongside the European Chips Diversity Alliance (ECDA), European Chips Skills Academy (ECSA), OECD, and EU STEM Coalition, announced the “Accelerating Europe’s Tech Advantage” forum, scheduled for October 2, 2025, in Brussels. The event will bring together policymakers, educators, and industry leaders to address Europe’s semiconductor talent shortage, exchange strategies, and discuss solutions to strengthen the region’s skills pipeline for advanced technologies.

The European Commission’s Union of Skills and STEM Education Strategic Plan emphasizes STEM education to prepare a workforce for high-tech sectors, including semiconductors. The ECSA Skills Strategy 2024 report indicates that by 2030, Europe could face a shortage of over 75,000 skilled semiconductor workers, particularly hardware engineers and technicians. Despite a rise in STEM graduates, only 28% specialize in semiconductor-relevant fields, with fewer than 18,000 entering the industry in 2022. This gap threatens sectors like AI, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, and defense, which rely on semiconductors.

The forum will feature keynote speeches from Laith Altimime, President of SEMI Europe, Andreas Schleicher of the OECD, and Beatrice Boots of...