A recent study by auditing and consulting firm PwC sees the semiconductor industry on the upswing. By 2022, its global sales volume is expected to rise to 525 billion US dollars. This corresponds to an average annual growth of 4.6% compared to the previous record-holding year of 2018. One of the key drivers of this development is the automotive industry, which has an increased demand for semiconductors as a result of the switch to new electric mobility concepts. PwC sees the greatest potential in chips for artificial intelligence (AI), which are increasingly being used in powertrains as well as driver assistance and safety systems.

At the same time, the study warns European companies not to fall behind on the trend towards autonomous driving in transport and logistics – and to lay the foundations for the development of advanced solutions. Through targeted promotion, politics should pave the way for global champions in AI development. In any case, in view of the increasing cyber threats from other regions, this must be a key objective of the European economy.