In a commentary published ahead of the Global Industrie trade show, Nicolas Denis, President of Asteelflash and Vice-President of the French Electronics Federation (FdEF) in charge of the Assembly Division, underscores the strategic importance of the electronics industry and Europe's strengths. He proposes a straightforward, cost-free measure to bolster European sovereignty.
Denis argues that electronic systems are the backbone of modern industry, embedded in everything from automotive and aerospace to medical devices and defense. Their reliability directly impacts economic performance and national security. While Europe excels in semiconductor design and advanced manufacturing, it faces a critical vulnerability: the outsourcing of printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), a foundational step, primarily to Asia.
This dependence creates significant risks, including supply chain disruptions, intellectual property exposure, and potential compromises to system integrity. To counter this, Denis advocates for a regulatory mandate requiring the assembly of electronic boards for all critical systems—spanning defense, energy, transportation, and healthcare—to be performed within Europe.
He emphasizes that this "assembly sovereignty" would not necessitate massive subsidies or new industrial facilities. Europe already possesses a robust, underutilized network of over 1,500 electronics manufacturing services (EMS) companies. The proposal would effectively mobilize this existing capacity, strengthening the regional supply chain, creating skilled jobs, and enhancing security for vital infrastructure without imposing new costs on public finances.