More than 250 companies and entities make up the Catalan semiconductor ecosystem

Catalonia aims to become a benchmark in southern Europe in the field of semiconductors, and faces this challenge with an ecosystem that encompasses 256 agents, including companies, technology centers, and research institutes.

The number of actors linked to this field has grown exponentially: in two years, it has gone from 86 companies to 216, included in the total of 256 agents in the ecosystem. These 216 companies have a turnover of 302 million euros, according to the report Semiconductors in Catalonia, prepared by the Government through Acció.

In addition, the current ecosystem linked to this sector generates 4,600 jobs, especially researchers and highly qualified workers, according to the report, which was presented at a conference that kicked off the Catalonia Semiconductor and Chips Alliance. This public-private initiative integrates about fifty members and aims to define industrial policies that allow this ecosystem to be propelled in Catalonia.

This ecosystem is mainly made up of SMEs, which represent 81% of the total, and half of the companies that comprise it are exporters. The diversity of this ecosystem has facilitated the attraction of foreign investment, and has made Catalonia the third region in the EU that has attracted the most projects in this field, accumulating 6% of the total since 2022, behind Bavaria and Ireland and with projects such as Cisco's and Intel's, with a global value of 420 million euros.

"Public-private collaboration is key for projects to succeed," defended the Minister of Business and Labor, Roger Torrent, who called on more companies to join the alliance. The Government wants the initiative to be marked by transversality, according to the Minister of Universities, Joaquim Nadal, who highlighted the importance of having the university master's degree in semiconductors that will be launched in September. All with the aim of positioning Catalonia as "a relevant actor in the value chain of the semiconductor industry," according to the Minister of Economy, Natàlia Mas.

The Semiconductor and Chips Alliance has been promoted as a public-private initiative with about fifty members

To continue in this direction, the Strategy to Boost the Semiconductor Industry has been articulated, which aims to strengthen the actors in the value chain; boost international positioning and attract investment; create cutting-edge infrastructure for the local industry; attract talent linked to this sector, and promote technology transfer between research and business, fostering projects such as spin-offs, to consolidate Catalonia as a benchmark in this field.