A group of lawmakers urged the UK government to promote its semiconductor sector, attract inbound investment and ensure the supply of chips critical to the country’s industrial and economic future.
To combat chip shortages, governments in the United States and Europe have invested billions of dollars in semiconductors, including constructing new manufacturing fabs.
Britain, however, has yet to publish its planned strategy for the industry and risks falling behind in attracting inbound investment, legislators said in a report released on Monday.
Working closely with US and Taiwan
Darren Jones, head of the business, energy, and industrial policy committee, said the government is placing the UK in severe danger by not taking measures to support the semiconductor sector.
The committee recommended that Britain increase collaboration with the United States and Taiwan, the world’s largest maker of sophisticated chips.
Although Britain’s semiconductor sector is relatively modest, lawmakers claim it features world-class skills in intellectual property and semiconductor design.
Concerns about China
The Newport Wafer Fab in Wales, Britain’s most vital chip factory, was acquired last year by Nexperia, a company that’s registered in the Netherlands and owned by China’s Wingtech.
Earlier this month, the British government forced Nexperia to sell 86 percent of its stake in Newport Wafer Fab, citing a national security concern. Nexperia has said that it will appeal the ruling. According to lawmakers, governments must now engage with new owners to safeguard the survival of Wales’ crucial semiconductor cluster.
A government spokeswoman said the authorities are assessing local capabilities and working with industry and international partners to build a new semiconductor strategy that will expand the sector while ensuring the resilience of Britain’s supply chains.
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