 Dear IPC Members:
Here is your weekly, five-minute read on what your IPC Government Relations team is watching and doing on your behalf.
In Brussels, the EC President this week delivered her last State of the Union address before her mandate expires next year, previewing further efforts to support investment and innovation in clean technologies and critical technologies.
In Washington, lawmakers are continuing to struggle to avoid a government “shutdown” after September 30, when FY23 ends. We’re watching for any impacts on programs that affect electronics manufacturing and advocating for full funding of such programs in FY24.
In case you missed it, here is our IPC Government Relations progress report for the first half of 2023.
Please read on to learn more about our industry’s advocacy efforts on business-critical issues in the United States, Europe, and worldwide – and how you can be involved. All the best, |
Chris Mitchell
Vice President, Global Government Relations
The Headlines at a Glance:
TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK
- EC President’s State of Union Speech Focuses on Clean and Critical Sectors
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
- EC President Von der Leyen Backs More Support of Critical Technologies
IPC ADVOCACY AND YOU
- IPC to Co-Host CHIPS R&D Standards Summit
- Four New Faces in the IPC DC Office
INDUSTRY INTELLIGENCE
- U.S. Economy Resilient; Eurozone Perks Up
ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND SUSTAINABILITY
- IPC Sustainability Strategist Forecasts IPC’s Green Agenda
UPCOMING EVENTS
- IPC Day in Romania, September 27-28
- Economic Update and Market Outlook Webinar, October 5
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TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK
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EC President’s State of the Union Speech Focuses on Clean and Critical Sectors: European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen this week delivered her last annual “State of the Union” speech, calling for further progress on sustainability and supply chain resiliency. The European Green Deal has become an economic agenda, she said, providing “clear direction for investment and innovation.” She pledged to begin a series of Clean Transition Dialogues, aiming “to support every sector in building its business model for the decarbonisation of industry.” She also previewed a European wind power package; a continuing effort to reduce regulatory reporting obligations; and efforts to invest in critical technologies and sectors. IPC continues to engage with the EC on the region’s industrial policy, highlighting the crucial role and needs of electronics manufacturers. At the commission’s request, together with partners and stakeholders, we recently submitted an industry-curated report with recommendations to bolster Europe’s PCB and EMS sectors. IPC Contact: Alison James.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
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“It is an economic and national security imperative to preserve a European edge on critical and emerging technologies.”
– European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen in her annual “State of the Union” speech this week. |
IPC ADVOCACY AND YOU
IPC to Co-Host CHIPS R&D Standards Summit: The U.S. Government and private-sector stakeholders including IPC are coming together to co-host a CHIPS Research and Development Standards Summit on Sept. 27-29, focused on identifying priorities for relevant standards activities and enabling a diverse, standards-capable workforce. The summit will cover the full range of standards types, and the entire chips and microelectronics sector, from materials and design to fabrication, packaging, and testing and certification. IPC Chief Technology Officer Matt Kelly and VP of Education Dave Hernandez will participate on IPC’s behalf, and both will take the opportunity to meet with key policy makers while in DC. A post-summit report will inform standards planning efforts across the semiconductor innovation ecosystem and within CHIPS R&D Office. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.
Four New Faces in the IPC DC Office: As previously announced, over the last few months, IPC has welcomed four new faces in its Washington office as part of its ongoing efforts to educate and influence U.S. policymakers. Richard Cappetto, a 14-year veteran of the U.S. House of Representatives, is our new senior director for North American government relations. Michelle Mermelstein is the new senior director of media engagement. Nyron Rouse is the new director of government grants and strategic funding initiatives. And Kate Koger is our new public affairs coordinator. The rest of the team remains the same: Kelly Scanlon is Lead Sustainability Strategist; Suhani Chitalia is Manager of Environmental Regulatory Affairs; Alison James is Senior Director of European Government Relations; and yours truly, Chris Mitchell, is VP of Global Government Relations. Please follow us on LinkedIn!
INDUSTRY INTELLIGENCE
U.S. Economy Resilient; Eurozone Perking Up: According to IPC’s August 2023 Economic Outlook report, the forecast for economic growth in the United States is up from the beginning of the year, while Europe is experiencing the most substantial growth since the second quarter of 2022. The U.S. manufacturing sector in July recorded its first gain in three months, with auto production up by 5.2 percent. While the U.S. economy has surpassed expectations, the Federal Reserve has raised rates significantly over the last year, signaling tremendous headwinds as those rates take effect. IPC Contact: Shawn Dubravac.
ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND SUSTAINABILITY
IPC Sustainability Strategist Forecasts IPC’s Green Agenda: In a new edition of the Altium OnTrack podcast, IPC Lead Sustainability Strategist Kelly Scanlon talks about IPC’s plans to provide standards, education, and advocacy to help the electronics manufacturing industry navigate the environmental, social, and corporate governance aspects of sustainability in electronics. IPC Contact: Kelly Scanlon.
UPCOMING EVENTS
IPC Day in Romania: Build Electronics Better with Standards and Solutions, Conference Powered by Flex: Timisoara, Romania, Sept. 27-28. The conference will provide a unique opportunity to learn about the latest advancements in electronics manufacturing, participate in industry discussions, and network with a community of professionals dedicated to building electronics better. The world-class lineup includes speakers and panelists from NASA, Stellantis, Bosch, Flex, Indium, IPC, The Polytechnic University, and Vitesco. Registration is free.
Quarterly Economic Update and Market Outlook Webinar: Online, October 5. Stay up to date on the latest economic developments and gain valuable insights from IPC Chief Economist Shawn DuBravac as he helps you navigate an uncertain economic landscape. Registration is free.
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Senior executives of 26 electronics manufacturing companies from across the United States called on the U.S. Congress to support robust funding for reinvigorating the printed circuit board manufacturing sector. In a pair of letters sent to the heads of the Appropriations Committees and Defense Appropriations Subcommittees in the House and Senate, the executives urged that $100 million be allocated in Fiscal 2024 to implement President Biden's recent Presidential Determination under Title III of the Defense Production Act that rebuilding the PCB sector is critical to U.S. national security.
Read more: https://lnkd.in/eVSbNAZq |
Great op-ed in the Orange County Business Journal, stating what we at IPC have said for months – semiconductor chips have no functionality until they are packaged and placed on PCBs by electronics manufacturers who assemble systems. If the U.S. cannot curb its dependence on overseas suppliers for PCBs, the CHIPS Act will not fulfill its promise of ensuring the autonomy and resiliency of the U.S. supply chain for semiconductors and advanced electronics.
The U.S. Department of Commerce needs to clarify its plans for bolstering the domestic development and fabrication of advanced PCBs as a key part of the CHIPS for America program. Read op-ed: https://lnkd.in/gTuCWany |
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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