Panel Insights: The UK, EU and Taiwan in the New Semiconductor World

Following Colley Hwang’s keynote at Semi Impact Forum 2025, the day’s first panel—“Changing Global Semiconductor Landscape and Taiwan, EU and UK’s Global Role”—assembled leaders from across policy, industry, and academia. Their task: to map out how the UK and EU can carve out strategic roles in an increasingly decentralised and high-stakes semiconductor world.

Colley Hwang – Founder & President, DIGITIMES

Colley Hwang returned to the stage to stress that semiconductor manufacturing must become more decentralised. He cited TSMC’s new fab in Germany as a case in point: Europe can and should be a hub for advanced semiconductor production, but not by trying to replicate Taiwan’s scale. Instead, he underscored that Taiwan’s success has always been rooted in decades of focused strategy and ecosystem coordination, not sheer volume.

He argued that the future of chips lies in regionalised ecosystems, not centralised mega-fabs.

Josh Liu – Co-Founder & Director, Semi Ventures

Josh Liu unveiled “ChipStart,” a forthcoming programme designed to support early-stage UK chip startups. He positioned semiconductors as a core pillar of the UK’s broader industrial strategy and acknowledged that while the UK won’t match Taiwan’s manufacturing footprint, it can develop capacity where it truly counts.

He highlighted sectors such as defence, aerospace, and cybersecurity as natural areas for UK specialisation—domains where national security and technological advantage converge.

Tim Kay – Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for Business and Trade

Tim Kay pointed to the UK government’s £6 billion investment in R&D, digital skills, and university infrastructure. This financial backing, he said, should enable the UK to sharpen its competitive edge.

Rather than replicating global giants, Kay encouraged the UK to invest where it has permission to win—areas of natural strength and high-growth potential.

Dr Jalal Bagherli CBE – Co-Chair, UK Semiconductor Policy Advisory Panel

Dr Bagherli provided a more technical perspective, identifying differentiated manufacturing as the UK’s strongest card. This includes compound semiconductors, photonics, and flexible electronics—areas that can meet growing global demand, particularly in AI-enabled systems.

He emphasised that the UK must plug into global supply chains with clear value propositions rather than trying to do everything domestically.

Sue Daley – Director, Technology & Innovation, techUK

Sue Daley called for swift and decisive action to turn the UK’s semiconductor strategy into tangible results. She acknowledged the UK’s strengths in design, IP, and AI infrastructure, but warned that momentum can fade without timely implementation.

She also reinforced the importance of global alliances, especially with Taiwan, which she sees as critical to unlocking the next phase of innovation.

Martin Partl – Director, UK and Ireland Operations, CzechInvest

Speaking from the EU perspective, Martin Partl described the Czech Republic’s development of semiconductor clusters across 14 regions, including collaborative cross-border work with Germany’s Saxony. He emphasised that long-term vision—beyond electoral cycles—is key to building sustainable industry capabilities.

He presented this interregional model as a template for smaller nations seeking to contribute meaningfully to Europe’s semiconductor ambitions.

José Marino García – Executive Director, SETT (Spain)

José Marino García shared Spain’s approach to the semiconductor race—one that balances geopolitical strategy with technological leadership and environmental sustainability. He spoke of Spain’s role in the EU’s larger push for photonics, RISC-V architecture, and deep-tech funding via financial facilities and cross-border initiatives.

He argued that sovereignty should be pursued through strategic interdependence—not isolation—and that sustainability must be embedded into chip innovation from the outset.

Emerging Consensus: A Roadmap in Motion

While perspectives varied, the panel’s shared conclusions were unmistakable:

• Nations must double down on their strengths—be it photonics, flexible electronics, or AI design.

• Investment must extend beyond fabs to skills, startups, and R&D infrastructure.

• Partnerships with Taiwan are not optional—they’re strategic necessities.

• The decentralised future is not just possible—it’s already here.

  
  

This session made it clear: the global semiconductor map is being redrawn, and each country must decide not only where it fits—but how it leads.