Speaker

Pierre Chastanet

Head of the Unit for Microelectronics and Photonics - European Commission

Biography

Pierre Chastanet is Head of the Unit for Microelectronics and Photonics at the European Commission, where he manages the development of European semiconductor policy and the implementation of the European Chips Act.

Mr. Chastanet has been working for over 18 years in the European Commission, supervising different digital policies in the areas of cloud, data flows, software, cybersecurity, privacy, green ICT, and telecom innovation.

Prior to that, Mr. Chastanet gained more than 10 years of ICT experience, mostly in various IT management positions in a large multinational company.

He graduated from Telecom ParisTech, the Free University of Brussels, and the London School of Economics and Political Science. He also earned a Leadership Executive Certificate from Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Talk(s)

12:35 PM

Panel: Securing Europe’s Future: Pilot Lines at the Heart of Innovation

To help Europe maintain its leadership in semiconductor technology, the Chips for Europe initiative has launched a series of pilot lines. These pilot lines are instrumental in supporting Europe’s ambition to drive innovation across transformative domains such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, healthcare, and automotive, among others, each reshaping the future of semiconductor design and manufacturing.

This high-level panel will highlight the strategic importance of pilot lines in enhancing competitiveness across key sectors, including health, automotive, and security, while aligning with European priorities and ensuring the effective use of public investment.

Representatives from Chips JU, imec, Leti, and Fraunhofer will share key developments from Europe’s three flagship pilot lines, with a focus on enhancing accessibility, fostering cross-border collaboration, and increasing industry engagement. The discussion will also explore the broader innovation ecosystem, highlighting efforts in talent development, the role of competence centers, and the contributions of the EU project aCCCes to bridge Europe’s skills gap.

This session brings together leading voices from research, industry, and policy to explore how pilot lines accelerate breakthrough technologies and serve as a cornerstone for Europe’s long-term technological sovereignty and global competitiveness.