Silicon Saxony Activities
"Dresden Position"
10.09.2013, Dresden
Federal Minister of Economics, Dr. Philip Roesler, discusses the significance of microelectronics as a key technology in the industrial policy with representatives from economy and science in Dresden. Their clear message: Microelectronics is the most dominant industrial technology of the 21st century. The availability of high-performance, safe and energy efficient chips forms the basis of the "Industry 4.0" to develop into the locational advantage for the German economy.
The "Dresdner Position", which was handed over to Dr. Philip Roesler by members from industry and science from the high-tech cluster Silicon Saxony today as representatives for the microelectronics location Germany, implies four major issues. The trade association demands from the Federal Government: a clear "yes" to the microelectronics industry in Germany to ensure the future of the industrial location lin the long run.
Microelectronics as strategically paramount to strengthen the industrial basis in Europe
The importance of microelectronics as a key technology has been acknowledged globally. Emerging national economies have been making available large resources for the advancement of research and production capacities in the microelectronics sector for years now. With its most recent Brussels initiative to double the European semiconductor production until 2020, the EU Commission clearly demonstrates the significance of the key technologies. Their strategic objective: to ensure the future of industrial developments and production within Europe and thus to contribute to the megatrend solutions as Smart Cities, energy efficiency and cyber-security.
German microelectronics is a global leader in the fields of automotive, security, energy efficiency and industrial electronics.
As Helmut Warnecke, head of the trade association Silicon Saxony states: "This is a vital locational advantage for the entire German industry in order to enable the breakthrough for the Industry 4.0 and to generate novel products and processes for the global market. Now we have to take further action. Thus, this advantage is going to unfold a sustainably positive effect for the German industry of suppliers."
Microelectronics is the key technology to reach the objectives of "Industry 4.0."
Safe, high-performance and energy efficient semiconductors are the brain and muscles of smart systems. As well, they are the key for the ongoing advancement and renewal of processes and products. Therefore, the relevance of semiconductors as a raw material for the industrial production will increase steadily. Given fair competitive and frame conditions, the smart
components required could also in the future be developed and manufactured in the German technology cluster Silicon Saxony in the region between Dresden-Freiberg-Chemnitz.
Industry 4.0: Germany's future prospects as a high-wage production site in a global competition
Federal Minister of Economics, Dr. Philip Roesler, pointed out that the German federal government and the representatives of the economy should take a concerted approach for Germany to remain an appealing industrial location. As he emphasized: "We do have an outstanding research infrastructure. Entrepreneurs are granted lasting support in their pre-competition. However, we still ought to give more room to entrepreneurial acting for the research infrastructure to be utilized even more productively and more intensely." He furthermore underlined the significance of an interlinkage of science and economy. "The close interlinkage across sectors represents the pivotal difference. Only thus can the research results be put into practice. Germany does a brilliant job and Silicon Saxony is paradigmatic. This is where we have to proceed from."
Host Rutger Wijburg, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Globalfoundries Dresden pointed out locational advantages. "High-quality training, an appropriate infrastructure, sound legal security and a considerable concentration of protagonists in the fields of research and development create an ecological system of international top quality." With regard to the European expenditures on R&D Wijburg stresses that their focus should increasingly be on the pilot lines and their respective industrial high-volume production. As he underlines: "The growth in chip production to 20 per cent can only be achieved by investing into a lasting enhancement of capacities." Globalfoundries Dresden is Europe's leading high-volume manufacturer of semiconductors.
Hartmut Fiedler, Saxon Secretary of State for Economic Affairs states: "In order to be globally competitive you have to rely on smart technology. We should by no means give away our leading role and thus our impact on the creation of megatrends. The microelectronics location Saxony is aiming at becoming a European competence center for 'More than Moore' focusing on combining microcomputers with sensors and actuators on just one chip. The system expertise required for it is crucial for the industries as for the automotive industry as well as for safety and machine engineering. Thus, workplaces are created and secured, also for medium-sized companies in Saxony."
Photography: Frank Grätz /Silicon Saxony