Chris Mitchell
Vice President, Global Government Relations

The Headlines at a Glance: 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK 

• IPC’s John W. Mitchell on Addressing the Industry’s Workforce Challenges

IPC APEX EXPO: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS HIGHLIGHTS

• IPC Unveils Expanded Workforce Development Plans
• Defense Industrial Base Consortium Holds Industry Day
• IPC Hosts Government Policy Roundtable
• IPC Drives Sustainable Practices

IPC ADVOCACY AND YOU 

• U.S. Members: Help Us Out on Advocacy for Advanced PCBs
• Join IPC Impact Day in D.C., May 14-15; Help Shape Policy for Our Industry

DEFENSE & NATIONAL SECURITY 

• Cautious Optimism on First Anniversary of Biden’s Action on Defense Electronics

WORKFORCE

• IPC Outlines Expanded Plans to Address Workforce Shortages

EUROPEAN EUNION

• EU Chips Research Funding Bridges Lab-to-Fab Gap

UPCOMING EVENTS

• IPC Impact Day: Washington, D.C., May 14-15
• Women Reshaping the Engineering Landscape (Webinar), June 24

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“At IPC, we have identified the key areas we want to tackle with better training pipelines, smoother transitions into the industry, clear career paths, and faster upskilling. So, what's the game plan? We’re going to team up with schools, invest in solid training programs, and change the way people see manufacturing careers.” – John W. Mitchell, IPC President and CEO, on IPC’s plan to tackle the industry’s workforce growth challenges in an interview with Fierce Electronics.

IPC APEX EXPO: GOVERNMENT RELATIONS HIGHLIGHTS

IPC Unveils Expanded Workforce Development Plans: Cory Blaylock, Vicki Hawkins, and Carlos Plaza from IPC’s education team spearheaded initiatives at IPC APEX EXPO, emphasizing IPC’s new apprenticeship programs and offering guidance on accessing government funding for similar programs within member companies. These efforts contribute to IPC’s broader mission of establishing clearer career pathways in the electronics industry. Explore more in the new white paper authored by IPC’s David Hernandez, Carlos Plaza, and John W. Mitchell, unveiled during the event.

Defense Industrial Base Consortium Holds Industry Day: The annual Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) Industry Day, held alongside IPC APEX EXPO, showcased the U.S. Defense Department’s commitment to bolstering the defense industrial base through initiatives like the recent notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for electronics projects. Attendees gained insights into the future of DOD procurement of advanced printed circuit boards and IC substrates. For further details, visit the DIBC website.

IPC Hosts Government Policy Roundtable: At IPC APEX EXPO, IPC convened a policy roundtable discussion, bringing together several U.S. and California state officials with industry leaders like John Vaughn, Allison Budvarson, and Anthony Revier. Following the discussion, government representatives toured the exhibition floor with IPC Chief Technology Officer Matt Kelly, fostering connections with local companies and highlighting the industry’s priorities in policy discussions.

IPC Drives Sustainable Practices: Sustainability took center stage at APEX EXPO, with a focus on integrating environmentally friendly practices throughout the electronics industry. Kelly Scanlon, IPC’s Sustainability Lead, showcased IPC’s sustainability initiative and outlined four upcoming projects. For more information, browse IPC’s Sustainability for Electronics resources and contact Kelly Scanlon to participate in this dynamic initiative shaping the future of electronics manufacturing.

IPC ADVOCACY AND YOU

U.S. Members: Help Us Out on Advocacy for Advanced PCBs: Attention, U.S. members of IPC: We are seeking C-Suite signatures on a letter to Congress about critically needed funding for investments in advanced PCBs and related technologies under the Defense Production Act. As you know from reading this newsletter, IPC and its partners secured a “Presidential Determination” that PCBs are a critical defense industrial base need and thus qualify for U.S. Government investment under the Defense Production Act program. But future funding for the PCB determination is zeroed out in the FY25 budget request. Now is not the time for Congress to ease up. Click here to learn more, then help us raise industry’s voice by adding your company’s name to the letter. IPC Contact: Rich Cappetto.

Join IPC Impact Day in D.C., May 14-15, Help Shape Policy for Our Industry: The U.S. Congress and the Biden Administration are actively shaping policies that are crucial to our sector, including decisions on investments in domestic PCBs and advanced packaging; incentives in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act for training and certification; and implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act. At this critical juncture, we invite your participation in advocating for our industry's interests. Please join us and help bring the industry's voice to Capitol Hill for IPC Impact Day, next month on May 14 and 15. This event is a unique opportunity for you to engage with your elected officials, Executive Branch policymakers, and industry peers. Attendees will enjoy an opening dinner and networking reception, breakfast with a briefing on the key issues, meetings with Congressional Leadership, a luncheon with a special guest speaker, private Congressional meetings, and a closing happy hour. Register now and secure your place as a leader in electronics industry advocacy. IPC Contact: Rich Cappetto.

DEFENSE AND NATIONAL SECURITY

Cautious Optimism on First Anniversary of Biden’s Action on Defense Electronics: As we marked the recent one-year anniversary of U.S. President Joe Biden's “presidential determination” regarding defense electronics, IPC had mixed views. On the one hand, the recently approved funding for Department of Defense purchases under the Defense Production Act (DPA) exceeded expectations, due in part to IPC's advocacy work (see next item). On the other hand, the U.S. defense community still lacks a "silicon-to-systems" strategy to strengthen the broader electronics manufacturing ecosystem. Looking forward, our optimism is tempered by uncertainty, particularly as the Administration's FY25 budget proposal lacks earmarks for PCBs, advanced packaging, or IC substrates, and it would actually cut the DPA account. IPC remains committed to advocacy efforts to prevent stalled momentum and ensure continued progress. Read more on the IPC blog. IPC Contact: Rich Cappetto.

WORKFORCE

IPC Outlines Expanded Plans to Address Workforce Shortages : IPC has unveiled an expanded workforce development strategy to tackle the chronic shortage of skilled workers in the electronics industry, rallying its extensive network of over 3,000 member companies to join forces. In “Building Electronics Better,” coauthors David Hernandez, Carlos Plaza, and John W. Mitchell address the industry’s immediate and long-term labor needs, with an emphasis on creating career pathways. At IPC APEX EXPO, Mitchell underscored IPC's pivotal role in education and workforce development, but he added, “We can’t do it alone,” and he called for more collaboration among industry, academia, and government. The IPC plan includes expanding the talent pipeline, creating career pathways, industry-defined training programs, dispelling career myths, fostering partnerships, and promoting standardized, stackable credentials. Read our press release, download the white paper, and learn more about IPC’s education and workforce efforts. IPC Contact: Chris Mitchell.

EUROPEAN UNION

EU Chips Research Funding Bridges Lab-to-Fab Gap: Earlier this month, the European Commission took another step in advancing semiconductor technology by allocating the first tranche of funding for “pilot lines” under the European Chips Act. Managed by the Chips Joint Undertaking, which oversees the EU's investment in chips research, this allocation marks a pivotal moment in the region's technological advancement. Following a rigorous selection process, Imec, CEA-Leti, and Fraunhofer have emerged as key players among the Research and Technology Organizations (RTOs) entrusted with running these pilot lines. These lines will serve as crucial bridges “from lab to fab,” facilitating the transition of cutting-edge technologies from conception to commercialization. One of the pilot lines will specifically focus on advanced heterogeneous systems integration, highlighting the EU's commitment to fostering innovation across diverse domains within the semiconductor industry. Read the press release from Chips Joint Undertaking. IPC Contact: Alison James.

UPCOMING EVENTS

IPC Impact Day: Washington, DC, May 14-15: Join us for IPC Impact Day to shape policy for the electronics industry. Engage with elected officials, policymakers, and industry peers during this unique event, featuring networking receptions, key issue briefings, meetings with Congressional Leadership, a special guest speaker luncheon, and much more. Register today!

Bold Breakthroughs: Women Reshaping the Engineering Landscape (Webinar): June 24, 10:00-11:00 am EDT. Join IPC for this special virtual event in celebration of International Women in Engineering Day. This event will shine a spotlight on the incredible women in the electronics industry who are breaking barriers, making bold breakthroughs, and paving the way for future generations. Led by IPC’s Teresa Rowe, Senior Director of Assembly & Standards Technology, panelists include eight extraordinary women from eight different countries. Register today for FREE!

PLEASE "LIKE" AND "SHARE" OUR LINKEDIN POSTS

		Following up on President Biden's recent FY 2025 Budget Proposal, here are its potential implications for the electronics industry. On the plus side, we appreciate the increased investment in STEM education and workforce development, including apprenticeship funding, which we hope to leverage to nurture talent in our industry.
There's no single workforce problem for the electronics industry and no single solution. This latest white paper from IPC dissects the workforce challenge and outlines a strategy to address it. It was authored by three of the smartest voices on workforce development: David Hernandez, Carlos Plaza, and John W. Mitchell.

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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