Joint Strategy for North Rhine-Westphalia’s Semiconductor Sector: AMO Represented on the Expert Board
On June 25, AMO participated in the kick-off process for the White Paper on Semiconductors and Microelectronics in North Rhine-Westphalia in Düsseldorf. The initiative comes at a pivotal moment, as technological sovereignty has become a strategic priority across Europe, with semiconductors and AI hardware playing a central role.
North Rhine-Westphalia already benefits from an exceptional concentration of expertise across the entire semiconductor and microelectronics value chain. This includes advanced materials, manufacturing equipment, semiconductor fabrication, chip design, artificial intelligence, and systems integration. The goal of the White Paper process is to bring these strengths together within a shared strategic framework and create the foundation for sustainable technological and economic growth.
AMO contributes its expertise to this initiative through its participation on the expert board. Together with partners from RWTH Aachen University and the NeuroSys Cluster, AMO is committed to strengthening a robust innovation ecosystem for European AI hardware. Since the launch of the NeuroSys Cluster in 2022, the network has focused on connecting universities, research institutes, industry partners, start-ups, and policymakers to accelerate innovation throughout the entire value chain. It is therefore highly encouraging to see this collaborative approach now being extended to the broader semiconductor ecosystem across North Rhine-Westphalia.
We would like to express our sincere appreciation to Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, for her clear commitment to developing a shared strategic vision for the region. We also thank Dr. Harald Cremer and the NMWP Management GmbH team for organizing this important process, as well as co-moderators Michael Heuken of AIXTRON SE and Dr. Roland Krumm of Elmos Semiconductor for their valuable insights and contributions to a constructive dialogue.
For AMO, the White Paper represents an opportunity that goes beyond assessing today’s strengths. It offers the chance to define a forward-looking vision for North Rhine-Westphalia as a leading international hub for semiconductors and microelectronics, strengthen Europe’s semiconductor value chain, and accelerate the transfer of innovations from research to industrial application. In doing so, the initiative can make an important contribution to securing Europe’s technological sovereignty in the age of artificial intelligence.
AMO looks forward to continuing this collaboration with fellow members of the expert board and with stakeholders from academia, industry, and government across North Rhine-Westphalia. Together, there is a unique opportunity to shape a long-term strategy that positions the region among Europe’s leading semiconductor and microelectronics hubs.
