Sweden’s semiconductor strengths
Maria Huffman, newly appointed Director of the Swedish Chips Competence Centre (SCCC), brings
over 30 years of international semiconductor experience with a career spanning Motorola for her PhD
thesis work, to various companies in the semiconductor space to solar startups, and finally with
leadership roles at Lund Nano Lab and the Washington Nanofabrication Facility. She shares unique
insights and her thoughts into how Sweden can position itself as an indispensable player in the global
semiconductor value chain.
From your perspective, what are Sweden’s strengths in the semiconductor ecosystem?
The semiconductor industry is global and highly complex- no single country can cover the whole value chain. But Sweden has clear strengths we should build on, and from my perspective those include:
- Cmmunications: With Ericsson and others, Sweden is among the world leaders in 6G and related technologies.
- Wide-bandgap semiconductors: Sweden participates in a European pilot line (specialized facilities where new semiconductor processes are tested and scaled up) that develops these advanced materials, which are essential for energy-efficient chips. This work strengthens Sweden’s position both in Europe and globally, with a particular focus on applications such as radio frequency (RF) technologies used in communications, and power devices that make electronics more efficient.
- Sustainability & recycling: The industry relies on hazardous chemicals and rare materials. Sweden can lead in greener processes, recycling, and circular use of resources.
- Mining: The Nordics provide access to key raw materials essential for chip manufacturing.
- University innovation: Strong innovation offices and labs help startups grow. With SCCC, we can connect them further into Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem.
A key thing that makes Sweden stand out is collaboration, not only within the country but across the Nordics. By focusing on what we excel at and promoting it clearly, we can become indispensable in the European and global semiconductor value chain.
You were recently recruited as Director of SCCC. What attracted you to this role?
I knew many professors and industry colleagues from my previous years in Sweden, and I’ve always admired how open-minded people in Sweden are when there are different ways of doing things in science and engineering, it is wonderful. After working with the US Chips Act under the Biden administration, I saw how important it is to manage both the opportunities and challenges that come with large investments and I wanted to contribute to Sweden.
What I like about SCCC is that it is led by universities but acts as a bridge. Startups often begin at universities but lack resources to scale, and we can help connect them into the global semiconductor value chain. Europe already has some world-leading examples of semiconductor actors, like ASML, the only company in the world producing extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems (machines that generate extreme ultraviolet light to create very fine patterns on silicon wafers and enable the world’s most advanced chips). Those are cutting-edge tools built together for example with Zeiss optics that enable the most advanced chips. That’s a reminder of what it takes: identify what you can truly excel at and build from there. Sweden and the Nordics also have specific competencies, and by focusing on them we can make a real impact. It is exciting to see and follow innovations and ideas that can become the next big thing.
What role does SCCC play in Sweden’s semiconductor landscape?
SCCC supports primarily startups and small companies to find the resources they need in Sweden and Europe. That can mean pilot lines, expertise, programs or funding (including the Chips Joint Undertaking). The SCCC team can help them grow beyond proof of concept. We also work with larger companies as they are key in shaping policies and focus areas within Sweden. For our line of work, I look at good examples like the EuroCC National Competence Centre Sweden (ENCCS) in supercomputing. They built trust through services and training; we can be inspired by this good example.
How can Sweden become a strong knowledge nation and attract talent?
Sweden has excellent universities and people here are very open – that’s a real strength. But we need to get much better at marketing ourselves. I knew Sweden’s strengths because I had been here before. We should promote that here is such a good climate for business, growth and innovation – but I don’t hear Swedish voices in Brussels as strong as other countries in Europe and that needs to change. The competition for talent is huge. In the US, I saw under the Chips Act how important it was to act quickly – universities and industry reached out directly to students before they had chosen their path. Universities like Lund are already promoting international recruitment. This is a good time for Europe in general to attract a lot of Americans and of course other excellent scientists and engineers, but the process to move here and integrate needs to become easier.
How do we excite young people to join the ecosystem?
We need to make semiconductors more understandable to everybody, to be a bit more approachable. Young people are interested in AI, the environment, and how technology shapes the future. There are opportunities to make humanity better as semiconductors are at the center of all of that – from greener materials to cars and medicine, these fields all require STEM education. You need to start early with children – as you go through years of schooling. Expose kids, and teachers, then you expose families too. We should give teachers better tools to talk about how semiconductors are key in the phones and the computers that everyone uses every day and create opportunities where kids can try things hands-on.
In the United States, there are initiatives involving mobile semiconductor education centers, vans equipped with semiconductor-related equipment and teaching materials, that travel to remote and underserved areas to educate and inspire young people about semiconductor technology and careers. These mobile centers serve as hands-on learning hubs to increase awareness and interest in semiconductor science and engineering, providing practical exposure to microelectronics and semiconductor manufacturing processes. That’s the kind of outreach that sparks interest. It is a big omission as a country to not try to communicate with kids and young people before university. I know good things are under development, for example by start-ups and universities in this area. Although SCCC’s task is more focused on supporting and educating companies than young people, we’d be happy to promote and list initiatives.
And what about people already in the workforce?
In the US, reskilling and upskilling became a big focus under the Chips Act. People at various life/career stages can take short courses instead of having to get full degrees to move into new roles. I think Sweden should do more of that too – making programs in software, electronics, and engineering more accessible so people working as mechanics or technicians or other roles can shift into new jobs. There is already a lot of material and investment out there, but we need to organize it and make it easier to find. For smaller companies, SCCC can help point to what already exists.