The semiconductor industry is one of the most important growth sectors in the world. Fleas are essential not only for computers and artificial intelligence (AI), but also for medical devices, energy and food production, transport, industrial machines, telecommunications and a multitude of other electronic devices.
According to a study carried out by the European Union in 2022, the global demand for fleas will double between 2022 and 2030. Several forecasts from McKinsey, PWC and others believe that the annual turnover of industry is expected to reach a thousand billions of dollars by 2030.
Faced with this expanding market, international competition is becoming more and more fierce, countries seeking to develop their production capacities and to reduce their dependence on nations producing semiconductors.
US law CHIPS ACT (2022) provides federal funding of US $ 53 billion (43 billion Swiss francs) to promote national semiconductor growth, while China has set up a fund of $ 47.5 billion.
The European Act chips provides for a budget of 43 billion euros (around 40 billion francs). Other countries have promised billions of investments to develop their semiconductors and AI capacities, including the United Kingdom, India, France and Saudi Arabia.
Alps, symbol of the Swiss model
Until now, the Swiss government has abstained from subsidizing private companies in the semiconductor sector-whether through tax reductions or public infrastructure.
“Switzerland may not reproduce the rapid model and focused on the profit of Silicon Valley, but does it really need it?” Patrik Wermelinger
This attitude is in accordance with its policy which consists in implementing a favorable environment allowing private companies to be competitive in their respective markets.
“Switzerland may not reproduce the rapid model and focused on the profit of Silicon Valley, but does it really need it?” wondered Patrik Wermelinger, from the Swiss agency for the promotion of Global Switzerland Enterprise exports, in an article published in March in the magazine Dimensions of the EPFL. Federal funding focuses rather on scientific research, conducted by Hautes écoles, the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnic (CSEM) and other institutions.
An emblematic example is the ALPS supercomputer, inaugurated in September 2024, which is currently among the ten most powerful computers in the world, according to the Top 500 classification. This project required an initial investment of around 100 million francs. It is the foundation of some of the main Swiss research projects in the field of semiconductors led by the polytechnic schools of Zurich (EPFZ) and Lausanne (EPFL).
Swiss research underwent a setback in 2021 when Switzerland was partially excluded from European research projects following the failure of bilateral relations with the European Union (EU). To fill this void, the State Secretariat for Training, Research and Innovation (SEFRI) launched the Swisschips initiative in 2024, with a budget of 33.8 million francs over three years.
“With this transitional measure, we ensure that Switzerland remains at the forefront of semiconductors,” says Christoph Studer, director of Swisschips and professor in information processing integrated at the EPFZ. “We have a large number of SMEs specializing in the design of fleas that need engineers. If we stop doing peak research in this area, it will become difficult to train new ones. ”
Breakthroughs in research
Swiss research on semiconductors gives concrete results, such as the optical amplifier based on a photonic chip developed by the EPFL and IBM.
This promises to increase the performance of data centers and superordinators. CCRAFT, a “spin-off” of the CSEM based in Neuchâtel, has developed a new generation of photonic chips adapted to the calculation centers for AI, telecommunications and quantum technologies.
The Finnish chemical company Pibond concluded a strategic alliance with the Paul Scherrer Institute. Together, they wish to discover and market new generation lithographic materials. These materials are essential for the production of semiconductors.
Swiss companies also collaborate closely with academic circles. “We have a solid network in Switzerland and around the world and work closely with university and leading research institutions,” explains Comet, a Swiss company that manufactures machines to test semiconductor materials. Swissinfo
Translated and adapted from the German by Didier Kottelat, Rtsinfo.