Suggestions for Opinion - Policy for the Semiconductor Sector 2025+

The document “Poland in the Game for the Future - Policy for the Semiconductor Sector 2025+” is an important step towards the development of the Polish semiconductor industry. The following suggestions, developed by a team led by Adam Piotrowski, phd, President of the Board of Directors of VIGO Photonics, are intended to strengthen and clarify certain aspects of the document in order to even more effectively support the development of this strategic sector.

Securing Supply Chains

The document rightly identifies the need to secure supply chains for semiconductor components. Competitive ecosystems are based not only on supporting the development or manufacturing of technology solutions, but also on securing local demand. In Poland, we currently have highly fragmented supply chains more closely linked to global partners (owners, co-owners of JV companies). This chain needs to be more strongly integrated inside Poland. This is also the role proposed in Pillar 3 of the European Chips Act (Monitoring and Crisis response). It is worthwhile to fully implement the Chips Act assumptions at the national level. To achieve this, we propose the following actions:

• Creation of a Supply Chain Map: A thorough analysis and visualization of the current supply chain in Poland, including key companies, technologies and dependencies on foreign suppliers.
• Identification of Critical Resources: Identify key components and materials whose shortage could disrupt production, and develop strategies to secure them (e.g., supplier diversification, warehousing, domestic manufacturing development).
• Supporting Investment in Domestic Production: Provide financial and organizational support to companies investing in the production of key components in Poland. We suggest building sectoral programs to force the maximum share of internal supply. This is in response to the non-market practices of non-European competitors. Systemic assistance at the level of strategic security of supply chains, systemic monitoring of supplies, preference in critical projects (defense, cybersecurity, time and frequency synchronization, transportation technology projects, nuclear or medical technologies). Following U.S. practices (e.g., NASA's procurement of space missions from private companies, which promotes efficiency and fosters innovation, while building the position of U.S. companies in the space industry), the government or SOEs could procure the development of critical technologies or equipment needed, for example, in the defense industry.
• Building Strategic Partnerships: Establish partnerships with European and global partners to ensure stability of supply. It is not possible for all components of the ecosystem to be designed, manufactured and assembled in one country.
• Establish an Emergency Monitoring and Response System: Develop a supply chain monitoring system for early detection and response to potential disruptions. Here it is necessary to support teams deeply involved in the semiconductor industry, e.g. within the SB³ of the Institute of Microelectronics and Photonics, SB³ of PORT, Warsaw University of Technology, Wroclaw University of Technology.

Building the Polish Semiconductor Ecosystem

The document emphasizes the importance of building a strong ecosystem of local companies. We propose to assume that by 2028, the ecosystem of microelectronics, phonics and quantum organizations will have at least 500 members in addition to existing academic entities, research institutes and several large foreign entities investing in Poland.

Europractice is an initiative that has been supporting microelectronics development and chip design in Europe for more than 30 years, providing access to technology, tools and training for universities, research institutes and companies. In Poland, there is a need to create a similar solution that is tailored to the specifics of the Polish ecosystem and the needs of the semiconductor industry.

We propose the creation of the Polish Microelectronics and Photonics Platform (PPMF), which will serve as a central hub for development and innovation in microelectronics and semiconductor technologies. The PPMF will offer:

• Access to Technology: The PPMF will provide access to a wide range of semiconductor technologies, including IC design, prototype manufacturing, testing and certification.
• Tools and Software: The platform will provide advanced tools and software for IC design and simulation, including EDA software, IP libraries and cloud platforms.
• Training and Support: PPMF will provide training, workshops and webinars for students, researchers and engineers to improve their IC design and fabrication skills.
• Support for Startups: Establish incubation and acceleration programs for semiconductor startups, providing access to funding, mentoring and infrastructure.
• Support for Basic Research: Provide funding for fundamental research in semiconductor technology to build the foundation for future innovation.
• Promoting Cooperation and Poland's Strong Technology Brand: The platform will promote cooperation between universities, research institutes, companies and startups by organizing conferences, hackathons and other industry events. We also propose initiatives to support clusters, employers' associations and technology platforms. Promote Poland as an attractive destination for investment in the semiconductor industry, using information campaigns and industry events.
• Facilitating Access to Technology: Provide access to modern laboratories and research equipment for small and medium-sized companies. Large semiconductor infrastructure in the hands of research organizations should have an open offer of cooperation, sharing technological equipment and cleanroom space for the use of other entities in small-scale research and manufacturing processes (Polish Microelectronics and Photonics Platform). Subsidized should be all activities that enable the use of technological processes of a manufacturing company (using Europractice as an example)
• Competency Development: Support education and training programs for semiconductor workers to ensure access to qualified personnel.
• Supporting Technology Transfer Centers: A very conducive process here is the activity of Innovation and Technology Transfer Centers of individual research universities (e.g., dozens of spin-off companies from Warsaw University of Technology, many entities created at other universities - UW, AGH, PWr or at technology parks.
• Creation of Investment Fund: Establish a special investment fund dedicated to the semiconductor industry to provide capital for the development of innovative companies.
• Trust-based innovation system: The creation of semiconductor technology sector coordination teams will enable a much more efficient system of verification of programs and projects requiring support and funding and, at the same time, will increase the possibility of accelerated response to changes in the technological environment, removal of bureaucratic barriers or acceleration of decision-making processes. Such a team could be the coordinator of a sector program for semiconductors.

Technology Parks

The document rightly points to the need for dedicated technology parks. Currently, geographically, players in semiconductors, advanced assembly techniques, chip design or photonics are widely dispersed across multiple locations around Warsaw, Wroclaw, Krakow or Gdansk. Dedicated technology parks could be an important element to attract further investments and increase opportunities for synergies and cooperation within the Polish semiconductor ecosystem. Such activities were already evident in the plans of the Lukasiewicz Research Network (Lukasiewicz Campus in Macierzysz) planned for funding under the National Reconstruction Plan. To increase their effectiveness, we propose:

• Specialization of the Parks: Create three parks in the three regions involved and mentioned in the strategy proposal (Mazovia, Lower Silesia and Pomerania) Each park should specialize in a specific area of semiconductor technology (e.g., chip design, materials manufacturing, sensor technologies) to attract companies from specific market segments.
• Cooperation with Universities: Parks should work closely with nearby universities to provide access to the latest technology and skilled personnel.

• International Promotion: Actively promote parks internationally to attract foreign investment and facilitate Polish companies' entry into global markets.
• Establishment of Competence Centers: Competence centers should be established within the parks to offer specialized research and development services to companies in the industry.

Poland's position in the global supply chain

Poland's semiconductor strategy should focus on the development of technologies, materials and applications in which Poland has the potential to achieve a competitive advantage. It should also take into account global trends and challenges, such as the development of artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and quantum technologies. We can't do everything, the strategy should focus national efforts on selected technologies, materials and applications. We propose the following technologies as a specialty in Poland:

• Design of integrated circuits (electronic and photonic): Development of advanced integrated circuits, including analog, digital, mixed-signal and specialized circuits, with an emphasis on low-power and high-performance technologies; design and development of specialized photonic integrated circuits.
• Semiconductor manufacturing: Improving manufacturing processes in the area of compound semiconductors, including epitaxy, lithography, etching, deposition and assembly, with an emphasis on miniaturization and integration technologies. We propose to focus on the development of the following materials: gallium arsenide (GaAs), indium phosphide (InP), germanium on silicon (Ge-on-Si) and silicon-germanium (SiGe), antimony compounds (e.g., InAsSb, InSb or type II superlattices) gallium nitride (GaN) and silicon carbide (SiC), with emphasis on applications in high-frequency electronics, optoelectronics and power generation.
• Testing and Certification: Developing advanced methods for testing and certifying integrated circuits to ensure their reliability and safety.
• Sensor technologies: Development of advanced sensors, including chemical, biological, optical and acoustic sensors, with emphasis on miniaturization, integration and low power consumption.
• Photonic technologies: Development of photonic integrated circuit and supporting technologies, including lasers, detectors, modulators and passive waveguide systems, with emphasis on integration into electronic circuits and applications in telecommunications, medicine and industry.
• Quantum technologies: Support research on quantum technologies, including quantum computers and quantum sensors, to ensure Poland's leadership in this field.

Summary:

The document “Poland in the Game for the Future - Policy for the Semiconductor Sector 2025+” provides a solid foundation for the development of the Polish semiconductor industry. Implementation of the above suggestions will allow even more effective use of the sector's potential and strengthen Poland's position in the global technology market.