Chris Mitchell
Vice President, Global Government Relations

The Headlines at a Glance: 

TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK 

• IPC Issues European “Silicon-to-Systems” Report

QUOTE OF THE WEEK 

• IPC’s Sanjay Huprikar on How to Build a Robust EU Electronics Ecosystem

EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE

• New Book on Workforce Development Benefits IPC Education Foundation

ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH

• EU Adopts Taxonomy Environmental Delegated Act
• IPC Publishes Sustainability Resource Paper for Members
• IPC Urgently Seeking Member Input on PFAS Chemicals

TRADE AND SUPPLY CHAIN

• EC Approves Multibillion-Euro Microelectronics Investment Project

UPCOMING EVENTS

• On-Shoring Advanced Packaging and Assembly, July 10-12
• IPC EMS Leaders Roundtable, July 11
• IPC IEMI Event, August 1 and 3

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TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK

IPC Releases European Silicon-to-Systems Report: A new report from IPC, says the recently enacted European Chips Act is a welcome step, but “the near singular focus” on the semiconductor industry “has obscured critically important segments of the electronics ecosystem,” specifically printed circuit boards (PCB) and electronic assembly (EMS). Over the last 20 years, the European PCB sector experienced a steep decline, the report says. The EMS sector has experienced “solid” growth, but total demand is met mostly by imports. The report comes as part of IPC’s ongoing dialogue with the European Commission about a “silicon-to-systems" approach. IPC Contact: Alison James.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Revitalizing and growing the PCB and EMS segments is essential to building a robust European electronics manufacturing ecosystem, which in turn is essential to ensuring supply chain resiliency, advancing the twin transitions, and promoting European innovation. It takes all elements in the supply chain—from silicon to systems—to successfully produce the electronics we all depend on in so many ways.” –  Sanjay Huprikar, IPC President of European Operations, comments on IPC’s July 2023 report on EU Industrial Policy

EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE

New Book on Workforce Development Benefits IPC Education Foundation: Recruiting and retaining high-skilled workers is one of the most difficult challenges in the electronics manufacturing industry; good thing we have a workforce expert as IPC’s CEO! Last month marked the publication of “Fire Your Hiring Habits: Building an Environment that Attracts Top Talent in Today’s Workforce,” written by IPC President and CEO John W. Mitchell. Learn how to shake up the hiring status quo, attract and retain top talent, and create a more inclusive work environment. Proceeds from the book will go to IPC Education Foundation to support careers in the electronics manufacturing industry. Click here to learn more.   

ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH

EU Adopts Taxonomy Environmental Delegated Act: On June 27, the European Commission adopted an act that outlines a new set of EU Taxonomy criteria for economic activities that substantially contribute to any of the non-climate environmental objectives. Under Annex 2 of the Delegated Act, it is determined that the manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) can make a substantial contribution to the transition to a circular economy. The Act specifies that EEE must be designed for long lifetime, repair and guarantee, reuse and remanufacturing, dismantling, and recyclability; and it must incorporate proactive substitution of hazardous substances. The Environmental Delegated Act stems from the EU Taxonomy Regulation, which empowers the Commission to adopt delegated acts to specify how competent authorities and market participants can comply with the larger Taxonomy Regulation. If you have questions on the EU Taxonomy Regulation or Delegated Acts, please reach out to IPC. IPC Contact: Suhani Chitalia.

IPC Publishes Sustainability Resource Paper for Members: In light of the growing need to understand and address environmental sustainability challenges in the electronics manufacturing industry, IPC recently published a white paper that provides an overview of eight sustainability topics that affect the electronics industry. The report also covers several changes needed to help industry move in a more sustainable direction; barriers and pitfalls on the road to sustainability; recommendations for company actions; and more than 30 useful online resources. For more information, download the paper and explore the links it contains; and visit IPC Sustainability for Electronics and the IPC Chief Technologist Council. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.

IPC Urgently Seeking Member Input on PFAS Uses in Electronics: Following up on IPC’s “Call to Action” in May, IPC is urging members to respond to a survey to gather PFAS data and information from industry in anticipation of a proposed universal ban on PFAS in the EU. The survey includes a list of helpful resources and serves as a “Step 1” to consider where PFAS may be used in the electronics manufacturing supply chain. A lack of industry data could result in limited or no advocacy by IPC, which in turn could result in few or no exemptions to the PFAS restriction. Without exemptions, the industry could be forced to decide between withdrawing from the EU market or adopting PFAS alternatives in their products and processes. Please ask someone in your company to fill out the survey ASAP as we are developing our advocacy strategy on behalf of industry. IPC Contact: Suhani Chitalia.

TRADE AND SUPPLY CHAIN

EC Approves Multibillion-Euro Microelectronics Investment Project: IPC supports the European Commission’s recent approval of an “Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI),” designed to support research, innovation, and “first industrial deployment” of microelectronics and communication technologies across the value chain. In a LinkedIn post, European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton said the IPCEI “is yet another demonstration of the EU Chips Act already triggering considerable public and private investment across the European semiconductor value chain: from materials to design, from equipment to advanced packaging.” IPCEIs are multinational EU projects designed to address important market challenges with public funding and coordination. This IPCEI, submitted by 14 EU Member States, will provide up to €8 billion in public funding, which is expected to unlock an additional €13.7 billion in private investments. IPC Contact: Alison James.

UPCOMING EVENTS

On-Shoring Advanced Packaging and Assembly: Falls Church, VA, July 10-12. Bringing together government agencies, the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), and advanced packaging and assembly providers, this IPC/IMAPS workshop will focus on efforts to onshore advanced packaging and ways to address U.S. Government requirements related to microelectronics assembly. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

IPC EMS Leaders Roundtable: Bannockburn, IL, July 11. IPC’s EMS Council and Steering Committee invite you to join other EMS leaders around the Midwest to discuss what data drives your business decisions. Whether cycle times, lead times, defects per unit, or customer satisfaction, data plays a role in our daily business decisions. Larger trends like labor availability, wage and benefit shifts, competitive landscape, and supply chain currents further impact our strategic planning. You, the participants, direct the discussion. We encourage you to be a part of this regional opportunity to further strengthen the EMS industry in the region. IPC Contact: Tracy Riggan.

IPC to Host Annual IEMI Event in India: Chennai, August 1, and Pune, August 3. In 2022, IPC celebrated a decade of successful support to India’s electronics manufacturing industry and launched a series of activities including member networking events and skill challenge competitions, culminating in the inaugural Integrated Electronics Manufacturing & Interconnections (IEMI) event in New Delhi and Bengaluru last August. Based on the success of last year’s event, IPC is once again playing host to IEMI events in Chennai on August 1 and in Pune on August 3. The event will bring together designers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, service providers and technical experts to explore new business partnerships, gain technical knowledge and source products and services. For more information on Integrated Electronics Manufacturing & Interconnections (IEMI), visit www.ipc.org/ipc-india-iemi  or contact Majumdar at GaurabMajumdar@ipc.org.

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“The purpose of this white paper is to help our members begin to understand and cope with some of the pressing environmental sustainability issues affecting our industry.” Kelly Scanlon, IPC lead sustainability strategist, comments on the IPC Chief Technologist Council (CTC) white paper, “Electronic Design and Manufacturing Sustainability.”		“The number of companies experiencing rising costs declined again this month, and less than half of respondents believe material costs will rise in coming months.” Shawn DuBravac, PhD, CFA, IPC chief economist, comments on IPC’s June 2023 Global Sentiment of the Electronics Supply Chain Report, available now.

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US 

Meet the IPC GR Team: Whether it is engaging with policymakers in the Americas, the European Union, or Asia, the IPC Government Relations (GR) Team proactively seeks opportunities to educate, inform and influence policymakers on policies that spur innovation, growth and competition, while protecting human health and the environment. But our success depends on your support and engagement. Learn more and get involved in IPC advocacy today! IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.   

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