CEO Today - September 2022

THE CEO INTERVIEW www.ceotodaymagazine.com 19 Initiatives to attract university students are certainly a great help, but working with even younger pupils and incorporating AI into the education system can also help boost digital readiness, future-proof EMEA’s workforce and encourage people from more diverse backgrounds to consider a career in the field. What opportunities does EMEA have to advance digital society and support green transition via the development of semiconductors? It’s no secret that the industry has a high entry cost. Semiconductor projects face significant cost disadvantages in Europe compared to many attractive locations in the rest of the world. It can cost 40 to 50% more to operate a fab in Europe compared to Asian countries, for example. However, EMEA has a historical connection to the industry, and our efforts to revive it provide opportunities to build a greener, more sustainable semiconductor sector that benefits people and the planet. Semiconductor chips are the foundation of the digital age, and we have a serious responsibility to make sure this critical industry does not hinder the equally critical green transition. After all, it’s also no secret that the industry can be resource and energy-intensive too. Collaboration with the public sector is one of the opportunities we’re exploring. Not only are partnerships with the public sector necessary to level the playing field, but they also provide a platform for an exchange of skills and best practices that can help us all progress in the green transition. However, to make this happen, efforts to reignite Europe’s chip industrymust be coupled with serious commitments to sustainability and minimising the impact on the environment. Developing ways to conserve, recycle and reclaim water is one option for achieving this. Partnering with local water projects to restore more fresh water than is being used to achieve water net positive usage is another. In addition, powering manufacturing operations with 100% renewable energy and sending zero total waste to landfills also helps. That said, no single company can change an industry alone. Working with suppliers big and small all over the world can help companies in EMEA encourage positive change across the entire supply chain, and help the industry become more environmentally friendly. What are your future predictions for the automotive industry? The automotive industry is in the midst of unprecedented change. The sector has accelerated toward widespread electrification and electric vehicle adoption, and traditional auto brands are under pressure to evolve their sustainability practices and even re-evaluate the best ways to sell vehicles. This has led to companies that have spent decades perfecting the production of vehicles, reinventing themselves and going from “car makers” to mobility services providers in favour of environmental sustainability. I suspect this trend will continue. Data analytics, AI, the cloud, and invehicle compute advancements will become the key to making driving an experience rather than just a method of transport. The car will quickly become just one part of a broader mobility ecosystem as car companies look to develop and execute increasingly futuristic visions of the in-vehicle experience – from seamless rapid charging for electric vehicles to intelligent driverless cars. In turn, we’ll see growing numbers of retailers and automakers look to capitalise on tech solutions that enhance that in-vehicle experience for drivers and passengers alike. As a result, upgradeability will be key. Given the increasing speed of innovation in software-based systems, consumers will require cars that can evolve alongside technological advances. “Semiconductor chips are seen as “the new oil”, given how integral they are to the devices that power our daily lives. But as demand has grown, chip supply has tightened – exposing fragilities in the silicon supply chain, and the fallout from the pandemic is still causing ripple effects that are likely to continue for a few more years.“

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