Semiconductors Have Become Strategic Infrastructure 

Few industries have undergone such a rapid transformation in strategic importance as the semiconductor sector. What was once considered a specialised component industry now sits at the centre of global economic growth, industrial competitiveness and technological sovereignty. 

Artificial intelligence models require increasingly powerful compute infrastructure. 

 
Modern vehicles increasingly rely on hundreds to thousands of semiconductor devices supporting everything from battery management systems to advanced driver assistance technologies. Factories are becoming more autonomous, connected and intelligent. Healthcare technologies continue to integrate sensors, processing capabilities and embedded systems into devices that were previously mechanical. 

The global economy is increasingly dependent on semiconductor technologies. This transformation is evident in evolving market expectations. 

 
Industry forecasts from organisations including McKinsey, Deloitte and other market analysts continue to project that global semiconductor revenues could exceed US$1 trillion before the end of the decade, driven by simultaneous growth across multiple sectors rather than reliance on a single technology cycle. 
This distinction is significant. 

 
The current growth trajectory represents more than a typical market upswing. It reflects a structural transformation in the role of semiconductors within the global economy. 
 

The Netherlands Sits at the Heart of This Transformation 

Within Europe, the Netherlands holds a distinctive position in the global semiconductor value chain. Unlike many countries that focus primarily on chip fabrication, the Netherlands has established an international reputation for its technologies, equipment, and engineering expertise that facilitate advanced semiconductor manufacturing worldwide. 

 
Over the past decades, close collaboration between industry, universities and government has created one of Europe’s strongest semiconductor ecosystems. Regions such as Eindhoven, Delft, Twente and Nijmegen have grown into internationally recognised centres for innovation, bringing together manufacturers, suppliers, research institutions and highly specialised engineering talent. 

 
According to PwC Netherlands’ The Economic Impact of the Dutch Semiconductor Ecosystem (2024), the Dutch semiconductor ecosystem generates an estimated €39 billion in annual economic value and supports tens of thousands of high-tech jobs across the country. 

 
This position grants the Netherlands a significant role in shaping the future of the semiconductor industry. As global demand increases, the primary challenge extends beyond maintaining technological leadership to ensuring the ecosystem possesses the expertise required for its next phase of growth. 

Growth Creates New Questions 

Historically, discussions about growth in the semiconductor industry have centred on manufacturing capacity, investment cycles and supply chain resilience. Those conversations remain highly relevant. However, the industry's next phase of growth introduces another variable that is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore: expertise. 

As semiconductor technologies become more sophisticated, the knowledge required to design, manufacture and optimise them becomes increasingly specialised. At the same time, engineering disciplines that once operated independently are becoming more interconnected. Software and hardware development continue to converge, while data analytics, automation, and AI play an increasingly important role in modern semiconductor manufacturing environments. 

As a result, product development and production processes are becoming more complex, increasing the demand for highly specialised engineering capabilities across the value chain. 

The implications are significant. Manufacturing capacity can be expanded. New equipment can be purchased. Facilities can be built. Developing experienced semiconductor expertise, however, follows a very different timeline. It is a long-term investment that depends on education, hands-on experience and continuous knowledge development. 

The Talent Equation Is Changing 

Semiconductor organisations have always depended on highly specialised knowledge. What is changing is the pace at which demand for that expertise is growing. 

The rise of artificial intelligence, advanced packaging, next-generation mobility and industrial digitalisation is creating demand for capabilities that often take years to develop. Many technical disciplines within the semiconductor industry rely not only on formal education, but also on hands-on experience gained in highly complex design and manufacturing environments. 

This makes expertise fundamentally different from other forms of industrial capacity. While organisations can invest in new equipment, facilities and technology, investment alone cannot instantly create experienced semiconductor specialists. Expertise is built over time through practical experience, collaboration and continuous learning. 

For organisations operating in fast-moving markets, this raises an increasingly important strategic question: How do you scale innovation when the expertise required to support it develops more slowly than the market itself? 

The Dutch Labour Market Adds Another Layer of Complexity 

The Netherlands has long benefited from a highly educated workforce and a strong international reputation in engineering and technology. At the same time, technical labour shortages are becoming increasingly visible across multiple sectors, with the semiconductor industry feeling these pressures particularly strongly due to the specialised nature of many roles. 

The Brainport region provides perhaps the clearest example. As one of Europe's leading high-tech ecosystems, it continues to attract investment, expansion projects and international attention. However, this success also creates new challenges. Growing organisations are competing for the same specialist expertise; supplier networks face increasing pressure; and, in several disciplines, demand for experienced engineering talent is outpacing the development of local talent pipelines. 

This challenge is not unique to the Netherlands. However, for a country that plays such a critical role in Europe's semiconductor ambitions, ensuring a sustainable pipeline of specialised talent has become an increasingly important strategic consideration. 

A Different Kind of Strategic Discussion 

Traditionally, workforce discussions have focused on recruitment, retention and training. While these remain important, the semiconductor industry increasingly requires a broader perspective. 

When access to expertise begins to influence investment decisions, expansion plans and innovation timelines, workforce planning becomes more than an operational function—it becomes a strategic business priority. Questions about engineering capability are now closely linked to competitiveness, resilience and long-term growth. 

For leadership teams, this represents an important shift. The challenge is no longer simply about filling vacancies. It is about ensuring sustained access to the expertise needed to support innovation, maintain competitiveness and enable long-term growth.