 Dear IPC Members:
Here’s your weekly five-minute scan of what the IPC Government Relations team is thinking about and doing for you.
This week, we were pleased by an article from “The Job” newsletter by Work Shift, which delves into federal investments in semiconductor industry workforce development. IPC was interviewed for the piece and spotlighted our role in establishing national program standards for electronics manufacturing apprenticeships.
Also of potential interest to you, IPC is seeking a Director of Sustainability Policy based in the U.S. or Germany to bolster our sustainability team. This role will focus on facilitating the electronics industry's engagement with governments worldwide on legislative and regulatory matters, particularly environmental policy. If you or someone you know is interested, check out the job listing and get in touch.
As always, we invite you to reach out with any feedback or questions.
All the best, |
Chris Mitchell
Vice President, Global Government Relations
The Headlines at a Glance:
TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK
- U.S. Defense Official Says Industrial Strategy Key to National Security
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
- On the Role Apprenticeships Can Play in Building a Broader Workforce
ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH
- European Union Reaches Provisional Agreement on Net Zero Act
TECHNOLOGY
- IPC Invited to White House Event on CHIPS and Related Programs
- European Commission Publishes Guidance for “First-of-a-Kind” Facilities
TRADE AND SUPPLY CHAIN
- IPC and PCBAA Urge Congress to Fully Fund Defense Purchases of Priority PCBs
- European Commission Heightens Focus on Economic Security
- European Commission Spotlights EU Competitiveness in New Report
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Unlocking Funding for IPC’s Registered Apprentice Program: Electronics Manufacturing, Feb. 21
- IPC APEX EXPO 2024, April 6-11
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TOP NEWS OF THE WEEK
U.S. Defense Official Says Industrial Strategy Is Key to National Security: In an article in Defense One, Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy, underscores the critical importance of a robust defense industrial ecosystem in deterring potential adversaries. In her analysis, she highlights how the United States' industrial might not only safeguards national security but also ensures victory in conflict. The recently published National Defense Industrial Strategy (NDIS) is aimed at fortifying the nation's defense manufacturing and technology supply chains to match evolving threats. Her comments underscore IPC’s efforts to help fortify supply chains and foster innovation in electronics manufacturing. Read the article in Defense One. IPC Contact: Rich Cappetto.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
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“Apprenticeships are just one potential alternative pathway to hire, but by sheer need, member companies are starting to recognize that we can’t only go to the universities to fill all of these roles.”
– Shari Liss, SEMI Foundation Executive Director on the role apprenticeships can play in building a broader workforce. Read more in Semiconductor Engineering and learn more here about IPC’s apprenticeship programs. |
ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH
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European Union Reaches Provisional Agreement on Net Zero Act: The European Council and European Parliament last week reached a provisional agreement on the draft Net Zero Act. This is the EU’s response in part to the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, aimed at boosting regional manufacturing of green technologies including solar modules, electricity grids, and wind turbines. The Act sets a goal for the EU to supply 40% of its own demand for clean tech by 2030, including by accelerating permitting procedures. It also provides for sustainability and resilience criteria in Member State procurement programs. The draft Net Zero Act is part of the EU’s evolving approach to industrial strategy as the EU continues to tread a fine line between bolstering key industries while remaining open. 2024 is a critical year as the EU sets its priorities for the next term amidst a growing focus on economic security. IPC continues to highlight the need for a “silicon-to-systems" approach to bolstering Europe’s electronics manufacturers in this context. IPC Contact: Alison James.
TECHNOLOGY
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IPC Invited to White House Event on CHIPS and Related Programs: Representing electronics manufacturers, IPC was in the room recently as the White House and U.S. Department of Commerce formally launched the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) Consortium and hosted a roundtable discussion about the CHIPS for America program. Recent announcements from the Biden administration have included hundreds of millions of dollars of planned investments in the electronics workforce, along with funding for projects in advanced packaging, metrology, and R&D. Echoing IPC’s main message on this issue, Laurie Locascio, director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), “We have to ensure that these investments build upon each other toward a strengthened ecosystem, which is what we’re trying to achieve in the United States.” IPC President and CEO Dr. John W. Mitchell told the gathered government officials and stakeholders, “We can’t solve the workforce problem for slices of the industry. Building a ‘semiconductor’ workforce is an inherently flawed notion. We need a robust workforce ‘from silicon to systems.’ “For the CHIPS for America program to succeed, America will need hundreds of thousands more skilled workers in this decade, not just in chips but in related sectors as well.” Read more on the IPC blog. IPC Contact: Rich Cappetto.
European Commission Publishes Guidance for “First-of-a-Kind” Facilities: The European Commission has published a guidance document on the application process for “first-of-a-kind” facilities to request the status of integrated production facility and/or open EU foundry, under the second Pillar of the European Chips Act. “First-of-a-kind” facilities are new or upgraded semiconductor manufacturing facilities providing a dimension of innovation not yet present in the EU market. The guidance aims to support undertakings to navigate the application process to gain the status of IPF and OEF, to understand the eligibility criteria, and to prepare the supporting documents needed to apply. IPC Contact: Alison James.
TRADE AND SUPPLY CHAIN
IPC and PCBAA Urge Congress to Fully Fund Defense Purchases of Trusted PCBs: IPC and the Printed Circuit Board Association of America (PCBAA) recently delivered a letter to Congress urging that it fully fund the Defense Production Act Purchases Account with $618 million and provide $1.08 billion to the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program. This action would support the Presidential Determination that PCBs are essential to the defense industrial base. With a deadline for full-year funding decisions coming on March 8, IPC and PCBAA emphasize that achieving full funding for trusted technologies is vital for continuing investment in the PCB industry, aligning with the objectives of the CHIPS and Science Act, and enhancing the U.S.'s global competitiveness. Meanwhile, the U.S. government's inability to pass a full-year budget for Fiscal Year 2024 is already putting critical defense electronics initiatives on hold, as explained in this IPC Blog. For more on this advocacy effort and its implications for the PCB industry, read the IPC blog post or press release. IPC Contact: Rich Cappetto.
European Commission Heightens Focus on Economic Security: The European Commission is intensifying its focus on economic security amidst growing geopolitical tensions and technological shifts. In a recent proposal, the Commission introduced five initiatives building upon its initial concepts first presented in June 2023. These initiatives seek to enhance economic security by revising the Regulation on the screening of Foreign Direct Investment and issuing White Papers on export controls, outbound investment, and dual-use research. Additionally, a proposal for a Council Recommendation on research security is included. Striking a balance between Member State competency and the necessity for European cooperation, trade openness, and investment, the proposals align with the evolving EU approach to “de-risking.” The package follows the October 2023 recommended risk assessments on critical technologies, and further details are anticipated in February 2024. IPC Contact: Alison James.
European Commission Spotlights EU Competitiveness in New Report: This week, the European Commission unveiled its highly anticipated Annual Single Market and Competitiveness Report, offering a comprehensive overview of the vitality and challenges within the Single Market. IPC has expressed its support for the report's in-depth exploration into the current state of Europe's industrial ecosystems. This marks the first instance when the electronics sector has been recognized for its critical role and longstanding dependencies within these ecosystems. IPC is actively engaging with the European Union to emphasize the significant scope and scale of these dependencies, particularly in areas such as PCBs, EMS capacities, and IC substrates. These dependencies play a pivotal role in shaping the region's industrial competitiveness and resilience. Furthermore, IPC advocates for the development of a comprehensive “silicon to systems” industrial strategy to address these challenges head-on, underscoring the need for a holistic approach. IPC Contact: Alison James.
Unlocking Funding for IPC’s Registered Apprentice Program: Electronics Manufacturing: Webinar, Feb. 21, 11:00 am – 12:00 Noon CST. Learn about the funding landscape for IPC's registered apprentice program. This is for the electronics industry and IPC members who seek to improve their workforce training but are hindered by workforce development costs, specifically as it relates to apprenticeship. Register today!
IPC APEX EXPO 2024: Anaheim, Calif., April 6-11. The largest electronics manufacturing event in North America, APEX features the newest innovations and the best minds in the industry. APEX 2024 will also host the Electronic Circuits World Convention 16, an international PCB symposium held every three years, featuring the latest information on global PCB demand, PCB manufacturing processes, and promoting the domestic PCB industry in every country and every region. Register by March 1 for a 20% discount!
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Printed circuit boards are central to all electronics across all industries, and American leadership in the industry needs to be restored. IPC and the Printed Circuit Board Association of America (PCBAA) joined to urge Congress to fully fund the Defense Production Act Purchases Account. |
“The reality is that people will work in the electronics industry, not just the semiconductor industry.” IPC’s Richard Cappetto, senior director, North American government relations, and Cory Blaylock, director of workforce partnerships, were interviewed for The Job about IPC’s new apprenticeship programs for electronics assemblers and printed circuit board fabricators, roles in high demand in the electronics manufacturing industry. |
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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