Chips, also known as semiconductors or microchips, are the core building blocks of modern electronics. They process, store, and transmit data, enabling the functionality of digital devices and systems across almost every industry.
Chips are used in computers and smartphones, where processors act as the “brains” that control all device functions. They are also essential in memory and storage devices, sensors, and communication systems that support wireless connectivity, including 5G and the Internet of Things.
In the automotive industry, chips control engine management, driver assistance and safety systems, battery management in electric vehicles, and in-car infotainment. In the medical field, chips are used in diagnostic equipment, imaging systems, wearable health devices, and medical implants. Their ability to perform complex tasks reliably and efficiently makes chips an inseparable part of modern technology.
The chip industry is built on a global and highly specialized value chain that includes several distinct stages:
- Chip design and electronic design automation (EDA) – defining chip architecture, logic, and functionality using specialized software tools.
- Chip manufacturing (fabrication) – producing chips in highly advanced semiconductor factories (fabs).
- Packaging and testing – assembling chips into usable components and verifying performance and reliability.
- System integration and end-product manufacturing – integrating chips into electronic systems and final products.
While chip fabrication is the most visible part of the industry, it is also the most capital-intensive and concentrated among a small number of global players.
Estonia’s main potential in the chip industry lies in knowledge-intensive and high-value segments of the value chain rather than large-scale manufacturing. Key opportunity areas include:
- Development of chip design and verification software
- Chip design services, both as subcontracting for international customers and as the creation of new intellectual property
- Chip design for in-house products
- Chip packaging and testing
In the broader electronics value chain, Estonia is also active in printed circuit board (PCB) assembly and the manufacturing of electronic end products.
Although chip factories are a central part of the semiconductor industry, none are currently planned for Estonia. Building and operating a modern fabrication facility requires investments of several billion euros, advanced infrastructure, and long-term industrial scale. As a result, chip fabs are typically operated by only a few global companies, such as TSMC, Samsung, and Intel.
Estonia’s strategic focus is therefore on design, software, testing, and system-level innovation, where smaller countries can compete effectively and create high value without the need for massive capital investment.
Even though Europe’s chip sector is currently lagging behind Asia and the USA, the goal of EU initiatives is to significantly increase Europe’s share of the chip value chain from about 10%. Europe currently has an important market share in chip fabrication equipment (lithography tools), where the Dutch company ASML is the global leader.
European companies are also leaders in chip design software. Considering China’s investments in the chip sector, Taiwan’s politically complex position, recent US protectionist measures, and, on the other hand, the ever-increasing demand for chips due to technological progress, further development of the sector in Europe is crucial to achieve greater technological sovereignty.