The only thing wrong with the new 100 billion euro programme to get Europe back to a 20% share of the world semiconductor market is its name.
‘New European Industrial Strategy for Electronics’ doesn’t tell you much.
My proposal is: ‘New European Engagement for Leadership in Integrated Electronics.’
It’s an engagement rather than a strategy because it involves the European nations engaging to execute on it.
It’s aimed at process technology – hence ‘integrated electronics’.
Last November the instigator of the new programme, Neelie Kroes, said:
“I’m fighting like hell within the Council to get the revenues for research and innovation; if we can’t do it, then it’s all over.”
Kroes succeeded.
Which is why the appropriate acronym for the programme for which she fought is NEELIE.