Catalonia will chair the European Alliance of Semiconductor Regions in 2026

Catalonia will preside over the European Semiconductor Regions Alliance (ESRA) in 2026, having been elected by a majority vote over other candidates. The official handover of the presidency to the Piedmont region, which will lead in 2025, will take place in Turin, Italy, on November 7-8. This announcement was made to the Government’s Executive Council by Catalonia’s Minister for Business and Labour, Miquel Sàmper.

“Assuming these responsibilities strengthens Catalonia’s position within the semiconductor sector, placing it among European leaders”

Miquel Sàmper, Minister for Business and Labour

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Sàmper informed the Government that in an initial phase, Catalonia will take on the vice presidency of the initiative in 2025, with Piedmont (Italy) leading the presidency, succeeding Saxony (Germany). Next year, Catalonia and Saxony will share the vice-presidency. Once Catalonia assumes the ESRA presidency, it will host the General Assembly in 2026.

According to the Minister of Business and Labor, Miquel Sàmper, “assuming these responsibilities strengthens Catalonia’s position within the semiconductor sector, placing it among European leaders in this value chain alongside regions like Saxony and Rhone-Alps”. For Sàmper, “leading this initiative allows us to enhance Catalonia's semiconductor ecosystem through collaborations and interregional cooperation with other alliance members”.

The European Semiconductor Regional Alliance (ESRA) aims to focus on regional contributions to European semiconductor initiatives under the EU Chips Act, which seeks to enhance the continent's technological sovereignty and manufacturing capacity. Catalonia’s role in this alliance is led by the Ministry for Business and Labour via the Directorate-General for Industry and ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment, Catalonia's agency for business competitiveness.

Formed in September 2023 in Brussels, ESRA has since been led by Saxony, with Piedmont as vice president. This initiative brings together 31 European regions, 13 of which are founding members, including Catalonia. Member regions also include Andalusia, the Basque Country, Madrid, Valencia, and other regions within France, Germany, Austria, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Italy, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Ireland, and Wales.

The semiconductor ecosystem in Catalonia

Catalonia is already one of Europe’s most dynamic regions in the semiconductor sector. On May 21, the Catalonia Semiconductor and Chip Alliance, composed of over 50 companies and organizations, was officially launched.

ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment’s report on “Semiconductors in Catalonia” highlights an ecosystem of 260 entities, including companies, organizations, tech centers, and research institutes. Together, these generate €302 million in revenue and represent a talent pool of over 4,600 highly skilled professionals. Catalonia ranks third in the EU for attracting foreign investment projects in this sector since the 2022 European Chips Act announcement.