On 3 June 2026, the European Chips Act 2.0 was presented. With it, Europe takes the next step in strengthening its semiconductor sector and increasing its technological resilience. The ambition is clear: Europe must become less dependent on technology from elsewhere and stand stronger in the global chip market.
By Tom van der Dussen, ChipNL Competence Centre
That ambition does not stand alone. The Chips Act 2.0 is part of a broader European package on technological sovereignty, alongside the Cloud and AI Development Act and an open source strategy. We see the same movement in the Netherlands. In April 2026, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy published the Semicon Vision 2035, with contributions from the Semicon Board NL.
From ambition to demand
The new European Chips Act builds on the 2023 Chips Act, but places a different emphasis. Where the earlier focus was on realising 20% of global chip production in Europe, the priority now lies in stimulating demand for chips designed and produced in Europe.
That is an important shift. A strong chip industry requires not only production capacity, but also clear market needs, smart applications and close collaboration between producers and buyers. That is exactly where the opportunities lie for the Netherlands.
Through joint public procurement, better alignment across the value chain and stronger connections between technology development and application, Europe can build a competitive and resilient digital economy in a more targeted way.
Opportunities for the Netherlands
The Netherlands starts from a position of strength. Our country has played a key role in the European semiconductor ecosystem for years. With companies such as ASML, Besi, ASMPT and Nexperia, strong knowledge partners such as imec, TNO and the universities of technology, and dozens of SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups active as OEMs or suppliers, the Netherlands combines industry, research, entrepreneurship and talent.
Moreover, the Dutch strength lies not in a single part of the value chain, but in how everything connects. From materials research, chip design and equipment to production, packaging, photonics and applications: Dutch companies and knowledge institutes are active across the chain.
The Chips Act 2.0 can reinforce that position. Not only through European funding and innovation programmes such as Horizon Europe and IPCEI, but above all by connecting Dutch parties more effectively to European opportunities, consortia and markets.
The role of ChipNL CC
ChipNL Competence Centre helps companies, start-ups and SMEs find their way in the Dutch and European semiconductor ecosystem. That often starts with a concrete question, but in practice it takes more than a referral. It is about understanding the need behind the question, finding the right partners and connecting technology development to market application.
ChipNL CC fulfils a one-stop-shop role. We bring supply and demand together, provide access to technical expertise and facilities, and clarify the options for funding and support. Because we know the landscape and have the expertise in house, we can act quickly and help parties move forward.
That role matters especially in the context of the Chips Act 2.0. European ambitions only become reality when companies and knowledge institutes find each other, when public and private investment reinforce one another and when innovations reach the market faster.
Building technological resilience together
The Chips Act 2.0 offers the Netherlands opportunities, but also calls for focus. We must keep investing in the full value chain, from research and design to production and application. And we should not see the strong Dutch position as separate from Europe, but use it as part of a stronger European ecosystem.
From ChipNL CC we will keep working to connect parties, accelerate collaboration and position the Dutch semiconductor and integrated photonics sectors internationally.
Technological autonomy does not emerge by itself. We build it together, step by step, with a clear course and a strongly connected ecosystem.