ASML and Europe’s semiconductor strengths

The Netherlands is home to a company whose advanced lithography systems play a vital role in making leading-edge chips.

A European capability with global reach

Modern semiconductors are manufactured through many specialised processes. Lithography is one of them: light is used to transfer extremely fine patterns onto silicon wafers. The equipment involved is extraordinarily complex.

ASML, based in the Netherlands, is a major supplier of lithography systems, including extreme ultraviolet (EUV) systems used in advanced chip production. Its machines rely on a network of specialised suppliers and scientific expertise.

Why this matters

The ASML story is a reminder that European industry is not simply a consumer of imported technology. Europe possesses specialised capabilities that are difficult to replicate and matter to global supply chains.

At the same time, leadership in one critical technology does not mean Europe is self-sufficient in semiconductors. Chip design, fabrication, packaging, materials and equipment are spread across many countries and companies.

The question for RISE

How can Europe preserve existing technological strengths while making it easier for research, suppliers and new companies to grow? This is a question worth exploring — not a problem with a one-line answer.