The unprecedented growth of electronic system applications, from AI to smart products, creates both a huge market opportunity and a deep need for talented engineers. Europe will play a dominant role in the thirties if we (i.e., our community) can set up the premises for such a technology expansion now. Whereas the European Chip Act is an important enabler, finance represents only one of the necessary conditions for success. The key aspect is the ability to leverage diverse competences and connect the partially-untapped energies of the various European players, ranging from Industry to Academia.

Europe’s strength stems from diversity and the ability to design complex systems from parts, possibly coming from various sources. The ‘value added’ comes from the engineers who can create functionality and services, and who can adapt it to a diverse market of consumers. Yet I argue that this precious resource, the human capital represented by engineers and technologists, is too scarce and its limitation in size is a main handicap for creating a strong market of intelligent products and services. Education of engineers has to evolve and concentrate on the broader issue of system problem solving based on a deep understanding of technology. Industry has to join forces with academia by sharing knowledge and objectives and by creating a strong enthusiasm for engineering.