Australia sets path with National Semiconductor Roadmap

The Semiconductor Sector Service Bureau (S3B) is leading the development of Australia’s National Semiconductor Roadmap, a 15-year strategic plan designed to strengthen the nation’s semiconductor capability, competitiveness and supply-chain resilience.

Semiconductors power a range of technologies, from smartphones and cars to renewable energy infrastructures. They are also critical to Australia’s defence capabilities and technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

Globally, semiconductors are considered essential infrastructure and governments are investing heavily to strengthen semiconductor capability and supply chains. Associate Professor and Director of S3B Tara Hamilton said Australia is facing a critical moment to define its long-term direction.

“Australia is heavily dependent on global supply chains. Strengthening semiconductor capability is not just a sector issue. It is fundamental to the resilience and competitiveness of Australia’s most important industries. The Roadmap is the critical next step in supporting and growing the sector, safeguarding our technology industries and enabling broader economic diversification,” Hamilton said.

Scheduled for release later this year, the Roadmap will be an industry-led, evidence-based plan, built on rigorous analysis and strategic insight, designed to provide pathways for policy, investment and capability development.

S3B will carry out a stakeholder engagement phase to ensure the Roadmap reflects the full breadth of Australia’s semiconductor ecosystem.

“Insights gathered from members and partners will inform the starting point for the Roadmap, ensuring the sector’s voice is embedded from the outset. There will be further opportunities for the entire ecosystem including key industry sectors that rely on semiconductors to contribute and help establish a unified national direction,” Hamilton said.

Formal mechanisms, including a strategic advisory group spanning industry, research, academia and government, will also provide guidance throughout the process. Members include former Australian Chief Scientist Professor Cathy Foley and UNSW Chief Scientist and Engineer Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte.

S3B Board Chair Professor David Skellern said building sovereign semiconductor capability and secure, resilient supply chains is essential to Australia’s national security and long-term economic prosperity.

“Australia has many of the foundations, including world-class research, critical materials, exceptional talent and an emerging industrial base, but we also need to scale capability and infrastructure to reduce reliance on global supply chains. The Roadmap will bring these strengths together under a clear national direction. It will position Australia to contribute meaningfully to a critical global industry, support industry growth, build enduring capability and move us from vulnerability to resilience, and from potential to purposeful action,” Skellern said.

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