About IPC In Europe
We are the global association for electronics manufacturing. Our members and partners in the European Union gather the European electronics manufacturing value chain including printed circuit board designers and fabricators, assembly companies, suppliers and original equipment manufacturers. We represent more than 3,200 companies worldwide and nearly 500 in Europe, that are engaged in the $2 trillion global electronics manufacturing industry.
PCB and EMS industries not only power Europe's tech landscape but also play a crucial role in Europe’s competitiveness and global supply chain. Electronics manufacturing represents €187 billion in annual output, but that number is at risk of declining. In our newest study, by 2035, the EU is expected to lose significant production shares in critical electronics systems, automation, mobility, and security, raising weaknesses towards a strategic dependency. In segments such as telecommunication infrastructures, servers, and renewable energies, the EU has a weakness across the entire value chain. Europe's PCB industry is already experiencing a decline in both volume and market share.
- In 2015, Europe had 247 PCB manufacturers, but by 2021, this number had decreased to 171.
- Furthermore, Europe's global revenue market share dropped to 19% in 2022, ranking third behind Asia Pacific and the US.
The European electronics manufacturing industry faces many challenges such as high production costs, lack of investment, an ageing workforce, and international dependencies for supply chains. That matters not just to the electronics manufacturing industry, but to many other industries. Our report fielded in 2023 indicates that more than 95% of European companies believe a robust European electronics ecosystem, including PCB and EMS industries, is critical to regional security, industrial resiliency, and economic competitiveness. A clear majority also believes the EU lacks key PCB (88%) and EMS (61%) capabilities. Our survey respondents signalled a strong interest in new EU policy measures to strengthen the global competitiveness of the European PCB and EMS industries.
But it's not just about numbers, it's about driving innovation and competitiveness. From automotive electronics to renewable energy systems, PCBs and EMS services are integral to a wide array of industries, fostering innovation and enabling the development of cutting-edge technologies that shape our future. To achieve Europe’s strategic autonomy and resiliency, we must bridge gaps in the European Chips Act and ensure local chip production and PCB assembly integration. Beyond semiconductors, Europe's loss of electronics manufacturing leadership undermines its autonomy in critical industries like aerospace, defense, medical devices and jeopardizes the success of the green and digital transitions. This trend is evident in the increasing dominance of imports over local production in electronics since the early 2010s.