JEMI France joins with SEMI to create SEMI Europe--Grenoble Office

JEMI (Joint Equipment Manufacturers Initiative) France members today approved the modification of the organization’s statutes to integrate the current JEMI France within SEMI. The new French association, called SEMI Europe–Grenoble Office, will be integrated within the SEMI global structure.

Heinz Kundert, president of SEMI Europe, said, “What we are doing at the association level mirrors the current industry re-organization and the need to focus on efficiency and core value that we can provide to our members and customers. The need for European clusters to work closely together is critical in the face of global competition. We are happy to see the Grenoble region welcome this opportunity.”

The move comes two months after the European semiconductor industry–represented by the European Semiconductor Industry Association and SEMI Europe–welcomed an EC report on enabling technologies. At that time, Peter Bauer, CEO of Infineon Technologies and ESIA president, said, “…what we are looking for is a strategic European approach to industrial innovation policy flanked by very concrete measures” that will accelerate semiconductor solutions that promote energy efficiency and that meet the needs of ageing societies. He called on EU member states to establish a “more equal playing field with the rest of the world.”

With respect to today’s announcement, Geneviève Fioraso, deputy mayor of Grenoble and president of SEM MINATEC Entreprises, said, “We welcome this synergy between JEMI France and SEMI Europe. Europe must strongly advocate for the microelectronic sector because it is highly strategic and drives innovation in the industry and service markets. This is what the US and Asia are doing.” Grenoble, she said, is the main microelectronic cluster in France, hosting Minalogic, Minatec, Nano2012, and other organizations responsible for 15,000 direct jobs and three times that number of related jobs.

Alain Astier, Group VP at STMicroelectronics and a member of the SEMI European advisory board said, “The outstanding support from the city of Grenoble and the public authorities, the proactive cooperation of JEMI France and SEMI, and the choice of Grenoble, where the semiconductor industry is highly clustered, have been instrumental for the success of this initiative that will contribute to the continuous global success of the European semiconductor industry.”

André-Jacques Auberton-Hervé, CEO of Soitec and a member of the SEMI international board of directors, said “JEMI France has already collaborated successfully with SEMI Europe for two decades, so we are thrilled that we are now combining our activities. With similar interest in our respective memberships, the core competences within JEMI France and SEMI will be extended, bringing even more value to members.”

Gaël Schmidt, president of JEMI France, added, “As you could see at today’s general assembly, our board’s proposal to integrate JEMI France with SEMI was well received by our members. They recognised the benefits of the international reach of the global SEMI organization.”