ITF World 2023 – trefoil-mux

By an interesting coincidence, imec invited me to attend their main event in the semiconductor world – ITF World 2023 (formerly – Future Summits). Within two days the most important names in the semiconductor world – Intel, AMD, Bosch, nVidia, etc. – presented their views on the future of the industry and the importance of innovation for environmental protection.

The most interesting presentation for me was that of Pawel Świeboda, because it reflects the important place that technology now occupies in the field of healthcare and especially mental health. He presented the state of EBRAINS and the possibility to understand the mechanisms of diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by joining efforts. Understandable, given Europe’s aging population.

This popularity has its positive sides, but in the long term it is good to take into account the possible negative consequences in terms of restricting a person’s freedom and using technology as a means of coercion. Of course, the difference between the EU and the US is quite large in terms of protecting the individual. While the US is profit-driven and develops computer-brain interfaces and implants that cannot be sustained after the bankruptcy of the creator company¹, the EU has legislation that protects the patient (Article 10²). That is why I am optimistic about the development of this type of technology in the EU. Some may object to regulations, but that is a topic for another post.

Other topics at the event included Europe’s place in the global semiconductor industry and the possibility of returning to the forefront of manufacturing, Japan’s development in terms of excellence (their government is looking to build a 2nm chip fab³) as well as a strong focus on electric cars and IoT devices.

A good overall picture of the state of the semiconductor industry was outlined at ITF World 2023. Chip manufacturing is not an easy business. In general, without chips, there will be no artificial intelligence among many other boons that we are used to living with. I hope to have the opportunity to attend ITF World 2024 next year and see “where the wind is blowing” in the semiconductor world.

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