Billions in investment attract skilled workers to Silicon Saxony

(Bild: Tommy Halfter) / (Image: Tommy Halfter)

(Bild: Tommy Halfter) / (Image: Tommy Halfter)

(Bild: Tommy Halfter) / (Image: Tommy Halfter)

Dirk Röhrborn, Vorstandsvorsitzender des Silicon Saxony (Bild: Tommy Halfter) / Dirk Röhrborn, Chairman of the Board of Silicon Saxony (Image: Tommy Halfter)

– Microelectronics and ICT sector to grow to 76,100 employees by 2022
– Software industry continues to develop most dynamically in Saxony and grows at an above-average rate of 7.6 percent
– Silicon Saxony industry association forecasts 100,000 employees in Europe’s largest semiconductor cluster by 2030

Heated atmosphere at Dresden Airport. A total of more than 600 industry representatives, sector experts and scientists from 20 countries met today at the 17th Silicon Saxony Day 2023 in the heart of the European semiconductor industry. Key topic: how does the semiconductor industry digest investments? With funding from the EU Chips Actas well as the IPCEI (Important Project of Common European Interest) program, the European Commission is strengthening the microelectronics and semiconductor sectors and creating investment and planning security for the industry.

Now it’s time for implementation. The planned investments dynamize the entire industry along the entire value chain. Medium-sized supplier companies in particular currently have their hands full. “The mood is very positive despite challenges. It is now up to the German and European economy to take advantage of the investment dynamics of the semiconductor industry to position themselves with competitive products in international competition,” says Dirk Röhrborn, Chairman of the Executive Committee of Silicon Saxony.

Saxony’s high-tech industry with 76,100 employees

At the most important event of the year organized by Silicon Saxony, the high-tech industry association presented new figures on the development of the industry in Saxony. “The industry is growing solidly and continuously,” said Frank Bösenberg, managing director of the industry association Silicon Saxony. Currently, around 76,100 employees work in Saxony’s microelectronics and ICT industry. The figures reflect the status in 2022 and do not yet include the announced increase in personnel from companies that are currently expanding their capacities and commitment in Saxony. Compared with the previous year’s figures, the sector is growing by 4.2 percent. A similar picture can be seen in the Saxon software industry. Compared to the previous year, the industry grew by 7.6 percent. Thus, software continues to be the most dynamically growing industry in the industrial state of Saxony. The industry currently employs over 35,000 people.

By 2030: 100,000 employees in microelectronics and ICT

“The location is growing in line with our expectations. The annual increases correspond to linear growth, as has been observed since the beginning of the new millennium. We therefore continue to assume that in 2030, around 100,000 employees in Silicon Saxony will be working in many demanding professions on the latest developments that will make our everyday lives easier and more sustainable,” explains Frank Bösenberg.