The Spanish government has opened a public consultation on the proposed European Chips 2.0 Regulation, a reform aimed at strengthening semiconductor manufacturing, boosting demand for European technology, and better preparing for future supply disruptions. Contributions can be submitted until 08/03/2026 at 11:59 PM.
This process does not mean that the new regulation is already approved. The European Commission unveiled its proposal on 06/03/2026, and it must now be negotiated with the European Parliament and the Council. If approved, the new Regulation would repeal and replace Regulation (EU) 2023/1781, the first European Chips Act, which came into force in September 2023.
Key points about the Chips 2.0 consultation in 20 seconds
- The deadline is from 07/13/2026 to 08/03/2026 at 11:59 PM.
- Citizens, companies, associations, and other interested organizations can participate.
- Contributions should be sent via email and include the sender’s identification.
- The government seeks opinions on identified issues, the necessity of the regulation, its objectives, and possible alternatives.
- Responses may be made public, except for parts explicitly marked as confidential.
- The proposal broadens support beyond large chip manufacturing plants.
- Introduces a maximum of 12 months for certain authorization procedures.
- Proposes mechanisms to increase demand for chips designed or manufactured in Europe.
- Envisions strategic projects, centers of excellence, and new research lines.
- Also suggests establishing a business platform to anticipate supply chain issues.
Contributions should be sent to [email protected], with the subject “Public Consultation on Chips Act Regulation 2.0 – Contributions [company name or social reason].” The Ministry emphasizes that anonymous messages or comments unrelated to the need, opportunity, or content of the European proposal will not be considered.
Those including sensitive business information must explicitly specify which sections are confidential. A generic notice at the bottom of the email will not suffice to prevent the contribution from being disclosed, according to the consultation terms published.
Europe aims to shift from subsidizing factories to creating buyers
The first European Chips Act was designed after the global semiconductor shortage caused factory shutdowns, delays in electronic products, and highlighted Europe’s dependence on Asian and American suppliers. Its strategy focused on research, new industrial facilities, and crisis coordination mechanisms.
The European Commission estimates that this framework mobilized over €52 billion in public and private investment and created about 46,000 direct and indirect jobs. It also funded pilot lines, competence centers, and industrial projects considered unique in Europe. Nevertheless, Brussels admits that the region still remains dependent on external sources for advanced design and manufacturing.
Government documentation estimates that by 2025, the EU accounted for around 10% of global manufacturing capacity, largely in mature technologies, with limited presence in 5-nanometer processes and beyond. It also warns that global semiconductor demand could double by 2040, with the segment for AI and data centers potentially multiplying elevenfold. These are projections, not guaranteed production volumes, but they underline the urgency of the review.
Chips 2.0 maintains support for supply-side measures but places greater emphasis on a less visible weakness: Europe can research a technology and finance its industrialization without ensuring that major buyers adopt it.
The Commission seeks to connect semiconductor manufacturers with sectors such as automotive, telecommunications, industry, defense, data centers, and cloud providers. It proposes a demand forum and demand accelerators—mechanisms designed to identify needs before a company invests years developing a product without a sufficient European market.
The goal is for manufacturers and future clients to collaborate earlier in the process. For example, an auto chip producer needs early knowledge of technical requirements, homologation timelines, and volumes that vehicle manufacturers might request. Lacking this information can make it difficult to justify new industrial lines, even with public support.
The Commission also suggests leveraging public procurement in critical areas to generate economic value, employment, and expertise within the EU. This is not about a broad obligation to buy all chips locally but about creating a framework to value European industrial contributions and increase public procurement of innovative technology still in the introduction phase.
This aspect will likely be among the most debated during negotiations. The institutions will need to clarify how to define European added value, its relative importance compared to price, and how to reconcile this with competition, procurement, and international trade rules.
They must also prevent an industrial preference policy from protecting less competitive products without enhancing technological autonomy. The declared aim is to develop stable demand to help European companies grow, not to isolate the market or replace all imports.
Permits in 12 months and support for the entire chip supply chain
One of the most notable measures is setting a maximum of 12 months to resolve permits for projects covered by the Regulation. Building a semiconductor factory requires coordinating land, electricity, water, chemical management, waste treatment, and environmental assessments. The duration and uncertainty of these processes can drive investments elsewhere.
Reducing times does not mean eliminating controls. The challenge will be coordinating administrative procedures and processing parallel applications, rather than relaxing environmental standards. It will also be necessary to clarify which permits fall under this limit and how to manage delays outside of the project promoter’s control.
The proposal also broadens the concept of pioneering or “first-of-a-kind” facilities. The initial regulation mainly covered plants introducing capabilities not present in Europe. Chips 2.0 would support innovative projects across any relevant segment of the supply chain, from materials and equipment to design, advanced packaging, testing, and manufacturing.
This change recognizes that autonomy depends not just on having a factory with advanced nodes but also on design tools, materials, wafers, lithography, metrology equipment, encapsulation, memory, and testing capabilities. Missing a single component can halt the entire product.
The Commission also aims to create a category of strategic projects that offer significant value to the EU as a whole. These could receive combined European funding, along with support from member states and industry.
Another category will identify European regions of excellence in semiconductors—areas with infrastructure, research centers, training, industrial suppliers, energy, and administrative conditions conducive to attracting investments.
While this designation can encourage regional specialization, it also risks concentrating investments in just a few hubs. Spanish documentation acknowledges that European manufacturing capacity is already geographically clustered, so future implementation should balance industrial efficiency with broader supply chain diversification.
In research, Chips 2.0 maintains pilot lines and competence centers while introducing “Grand Challenges”—initiatives focused on strategic technologies like AI chips, integrated photonics, quantum semiconductors, and new design capabilities.
The Chips Fund will continue supporting startups, growing companies, SMEs, and mid-cap firms. This is crucial because Europe has research teams and specialized companies but faces difficulties in funding the transition from prototypes to full-scale production.
Spain participates in this effort through European integrated photonics and quantum chips pilot lines, as well as public investments in microelectronics, design, and photonics projects. Notable initiatives include the upcoming IMEC center in Málaga, Diamond Foundry’s expansion, and Spain’s Society for Technological Transformation’s investments in companies like Openchip, Sparc, and Attypic.
The consultation provides these companies, technological centers, universities, and future buyers the opportunity to voice opinions on specific issues: which projects should be considered strategic, how to allocate funding, what requirements should accompany aid, and how to prevent small companies from being excluded from programs.
A digital twin to anticipate future shortages
The third component of the proposal focuses on market monitoring and crisis response. The original Chips Act established mechanisms to observe the supply chain and undertake extraordinary measures if shortages threatened critical sectors.
Chips 2.0 aims to enhance this capacity with a business platform called the Business-to-Business Semiconductor Supply Chain Platform. Spanish documentation describes it as a digital twin of the value chain, industry-led, capable of sharing aggregated information, issuing early alerts, and testing resilience.
This platform could identify when multiple European manufacturers depend on the same plant, scarce materials, or geopolitical risk providers. It could also simulate scenarios such as logistics disruptions or declines in specific chip categories.
Its effectiveness will depend on the confidentiality and reliability of data shared by companies. Manufacturers and buyers possess sensitive information about inventories, suppliers, contracts, and forecasts. Without trust and clear confidentiality rules, the platform risks receiving incomplete or withheld data.
The regulation also proposes strengthening coordination among the European Semiconductor Board, industrial alliances, and member states, as well as promoting strategic agreements with third countries. Brussels’ vision of autonomy does not mean producing everything within European borders but aims to reduce overdependence, preserve critical capabilities, and diversify suppliers where feasible.
Spanish consultation will allow stakeholders to propose regulatory and non-regulatory alternatives before the government adopts its position during European negotiations. For interested companies, influencing the outcome is possible now, as concepts like strategic project, European added value, demand accelerator, or region of excellence are still under discussion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the European Chips 2.0 Law already approved?
No. It is a proposal from the European Commission that must be negotiated and approved by the European Parliament and the Council.
Until when can contributions be submitted in Spain?
Until 08/03/2026 at 11:59 PM, through the email provided by the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Function.
Who can participate in the consultation?
Citizens, companies, associations, technological centers, universities, and other interested entities, provided the sender is identified and the contribution relates to the proposal.
Does Chips 2.0 only fund new factories?
No. It includes design, materials, encapsulation, research, training, industrial demand, public procurement, supply chain monitoring, and crisis response.
