In the Canary Islands, on Thursday 23rd March 2023, the Government Council approved the Canary Islands Microelectronics and Semiconductor Strategy 2022-2027 (CanaryChip), with the aim of coordinating the companies in the C3 cluster - of which Aerolaser is a member - the research centres and the public sector in order to support the innovation ecosystem and become a benchmark in the sector.

Do you already know the keys to this strategy? Here we summarise them for you!

What is CanaryChip?

Canarychip is an initiative of the Regional Ministry of Economy, Knowledge and Employment of the Canary Islands Government,, carried out through the Canary Islands Agency for Research, Innovation and the Information Society (ACIISI), whose general objective is to promote the development and growth of the microelectronics and semiconductor ecosystem in the Canary Islands.

Promoting the sector in Spain and Europe

In the national and European context, two projects are already underway that also aim to develop the sector:

> European Chips Act of the EU:

· Aim: to achieve strategic sovereignty and make Europe a benchmark for the sector, with the collaboration of the Member States.

· It provides for an investment of more than 43 billion euros.

· Background to the law: Europe has a relatively weak position in the microelectronics and semiconductor sector. Its share of the world semiconductor production market is 10%, while demand is 20%.

· Status: in preparation

> PERTE Chip in Spain:

PERTE Chip is the Strategic Project for the Recovery and Economic Transformation (PERTE) of Microelectronics and Semiconductors. 

· The aim is to make Spain a reference country in the design and manufacture of chips, in Europe in particular and in the world in general. 

· It plans to mobilise public investment of 12.25 billion euros by 2027.

· Status: approved on 24 May 2022.

The Canary Islands: the ideal territory for the development of the sector

The Canary Islands archipelago probably fulfils two conditions to participate in the actions of PERTE Chip: 

- Economic, fiscal, natural and logistical conditions to be a centre of attraction for relevant investments in the technological field.

- The presence of a relevant business fabric in the microelectronics and semiconductor sector, which has developed over the last decade. The CanaryChip ecosystem is of national importance and is starting to attract foreign investment.

Specific objectives

1. To transform the Canary Islands into a global platform for investment and business development in the semiconductor and microelectronics sector.

2. To develop an export ecosystem of services and products in the sector, as well as production capacity throughout the value chain, from design to manufacture of semiconductors.

3. To promote the Canary Islands as a centre for the development, attraction and retention of talent in the microelectronics sector, while promoting the vision of our Islands as a territory that promotes gender equality in the sector.

Main lines of action

1. To promote the Canary Islands as a destination for investment in this sector.

2. Promote the participation of the CanaryChip ecosystem in the actions of the PERTE Chip.

3. Promote the use of European Union instruments to encourage investment in microelectronics and semiconductors.

4. Complementary actions

*To view the full strategy document, click here.