SMWA: Decision-makers’ forum for the chip industry comes to Saxony

The SEMI Industry Strategy Symposium Europe (ISS Europe), a high-level strategy and decision-maker forum for the international semiconductor and microelectronics industry, will take place in Saxony in 2027 and 2028. It is organized by the international association SEMI (Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International), which represents the global semiconductor and microelectronics industry.

Saxon State Secretary for Economic Affairs Sebastian Scheel accepted the symbolic baton at this year’s symposium from March 11 to 13 in Sopot, Poland. The Free State of Saxony is supporting the preparation and implementation of the two events with a total of 300,000 euros. The event will be held in Dresden.

The fact that the ISS Europe will take place in the Free State is of considerable importance for Saxony as a business location and especially for the microelectronics cluster “Silicon Saxony” from an industrial, innovation and location policy perspective. “Saxony is the leading microelectronics location in Europe. The ISS Europe strengthens our strategic position in a key industry, increases the location’s visibility in international competition and creates good conditions and networks for concrete settlements, further investments and cooperation,” said State Secretary for Economic Affairs Sebastian Scheel in Sopot.

The ISS Europe brings together companies and managers from different countries in the semiconductor industry. Around 300 to 400 executives, technology managers and strategy experts from semiconductor manufacturers, supplier industries, user industries and service providers are expected to attend. Scheel continues: “This density of decision-makers is unique and ISS Europe is therefore a great opportunity for us. We can expand our strategic networks in Europe, North America and Asia in a targeted manner. We look forward to exchanging ideas with the international decision-makers and will be good hosts.”

The Saxony Economic Development Corporation (WFS) was instrumental in driving forward and supporting the efforts to host ISS Europe in Saxony. WFS Managing Director Thomas Horn adds: “With the ISS Europe in Dresden, Saxony is moving even more into the focus of the international microelectronics industry and gaining greater visibility worldwide. It offers the various players the opportunity to present themselves and their special ecosystem to relevant decision-makers, investors and potential customers on site and to network with global partners in a suitable setting. Above all, we expect direct access to current trends and developments in the semiconductor industry to provide Saxon companies and research institutions with new impetus for partnerships and projects.”

Frank Bösenberg, Managing Director of Silicon Saxony, says: “By hosting the SEMI Industry Strategy Symposium Europe again in 2027 and 2028, Dresden will become the most frequently chosen host city for ISS Europe since 2009. No other European city has hosted the semiconductor industry’s strategy meeting more often during this period. Dresden is thus positioning itself as a central location for the strategic debates of European microelectronics and at the same time underlining its leading role as a world-class production location. The fact that the global industry association SEMI is choosing the location in a phase of growing geopolitical tensions and industrial policy realignment is a clear signal to politicians, investors and industry. 2027 and 2028 will be decisive years for Europe’s high-tech orientation. The further development of the German semiconductor strategy, possible new priorities as part of an EU Chips Act 2 and the elections in France and Italy will have a decisive impact on how technological sovereignty is financed and implemented. The fact that the industry’s strategic debates are taking place in Dresden at this stage underlines the location’s role as the heart of a cluster that is already underpinning Europe’s industrial resilience with real value creation.”

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Further links

🎧 More on the topic in the podcast “What’s Chippening” from March 13, 2026

👉 To the original press release

👉 https://www.smwa.sachsen.de