Semiconductors and Statecraft: Belgium’s Role in Europe’s Technological Sovereignty
Abstract
Belgium’s global role in semiconductors hinges not on scale but on control of a strategic chokepoint: upstream innovation. With imec at its centre, Belgium functions as Europe’s semiconductor R&D engine – but this asymmetric position leaves the country structurally exposed. Without manufacturing capacity, talent diversification, or broader ecosystem scaling, Belgium risks becoming a high-value subcontractor in a geopolitical and financial game it does not fully control. To remain indispensable – and not merely useful – Belgium must convert R&D dominance into strategic leverage, push for Chips Act reforms that close the EU’s coordination gaps, build scaling innovation ecosystems, and expand its influence within a fragmented European industrial policy landscape.
Policy recommendations
- Lead the Next Phase of European Semiconductor Strategy
- Integrate Strategic with Key Industrial Sectors
- Address Talent Gaps through Migration and Education
- Strengthen European Strategic Autonomy on Export Controls
- Unlock Private and Public Investment for Semiconductor Innovation
- Plan for Long-Term Manufacturing Resilience
- Spend 4% of GDP on Research and Innovation
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