EUV lithography (EUV = extreme ultraviolet) is a joint project involving leading European researchers. Although one supplier of lithography systems dominates the global market, it relies on highly specialized components from Germany and other European countries. Only by combining these areas of expertise is it possible to implement this sophisticated technology. The process uses ultraviolet light with a particularly short wavelength to precisely reproduce tiny chip patterns.
This makes it possible to achieve structural sizes that were technically unimaginable just a few years ago. The necessary energy is supplied by high-power lasers that are currently only manufactured by one company. The radiation is converted into EUV light in a complex process. At the same time, all mechanical components of the system must be manufactured with atomic precision and assembled without vibration. The optics must also meet these requirements, which so far only one manufacturer has been able to achieve.
This combination of light source, optics, and precision mechanics is extremely demanding from a technological standpoint and can only be achieved through close cooperation between several European players. Older lithography processes are less complex and are still served by other manufacturers. In the field of EUV technology, however, European cooperation is currently the technological leader.
What political or economic dependencies arise from the concentration of expertise in Europe?
Europe bears a special responsibility for the stability of supply chains and plays an important role in the global semiconductor market – even if the region does not cover all stages of the value chain. It is particularly strong in power semiconductors, sensors, and the development of high-precision manufacturing technology. These technological skills are in demand worldwide and form a central pillar of international cooperation.
At the same time, it is clear that chip production is globally interconnected. No single location can cover all technologies on its own. Europe is aiming to increase its market share to 20 percent, but currently stands at well below ten percent. This means that the region has all the more responsibility when it comes to securing supply chains and expanding technological sovereignty.
In addition, there is almost complete dependence on China for the basic materials used in semiconductors. There is no autonomous semiconductor production anywhere in the world. These circumstances create political and economic dependencies that play an important role in securing technological sovereignty and global supply chains.
Why is it Dresden of all places that the world's elite in semiconductor technology are coming together?
Leading minds from America, Japan, and Europe are coming to the EMLC in Dresden. The city is considered one of the central microelectronics hubs in Europe. Nowhere else in the region are so many companies with cutting-edge technology concentrated in such a small area, especially in chip production. This also benefits the supply industry, which has deliberately settled in this cluster – partly with European companies, partly with branches from the US or Asia.
What role does the VDE play as the organizer of the EMLC?
The VDE connects industry, research, and politics, thereby laying the foundations for technical progress in Europe. The VDE/VDI expert association GMM is the largest network of experts for microelectronics in Germany. With its recognized expertise, it also influences politics and society and, as the organizer of the EMLC, brings together the key players in semiconductor technology. Scientific conferences are an essential tool for further developing technologies: only when research results are openly discussed can a common technical approach emerge. The conference also offers young talents a valuable platform to make contacts and become part of an international network.
What specific impetus do you see coming from EMLC 2025, and what makes you confident about Europe's future technological path?
The EMLC brought research and industry together around one table. With over 190 participants, the conference was a great success, thanks in part to the strong international participation. Cross-border exchange is essential in this field of technology, as the complex challenges can only be solved jointly and across company and national borders. The conference also underscores Germany's central role in this area.
Europe has a lot to offer in order to compete globally in microelectronics: excellent research, strong networks, and unique technological expertise. Although there is still a long way to go to achieve the desired market position, the interaction between politics, industry, and professional associations such as the VDE shows that the conditions are right. Technological sovereignty does not mean doing everything yourself, but rather remaining capable of acting together. The event in Dresden showed that Europe is on the right track.
