Investigator: Elif Kiesow Cortez

Abstract:
This project will provide a comparative analysis of the European Chips Act and the US CHIPS and Science Act, two landmark legislative initiatives aimed at promoting domestic semiconductor production and reducing dependence on foreign chip manufacturers. The US effort was passed earlier, becoming law in August 2022, whereas the European Chips Act and its main tenets were released in 2023. The US CHIPS and Science Act consists of a broader legislative package offering significant government funding through tax credits and direct subsidies, as well as enhancing workforce development. The European Chips Act, on the other hand, relies more heavily on public-private collaboration involving multiple actors, simplifying regulatory demands, the redirection of existing EU funding, as well as relying upon the added (and sometimes pooled) contributions by individual EU Member States. This project will examine the institutional frameworks for implementation and the governance structures of both initiatives. By comparing these two initiatives, we shed light on the distinct approaches by Europe and the US to address common challenges in the global semiconductor ecosystem.