On September 17, we brought some of Oulu’s microelectronics community together to look beyond day-to-day projects and into Europe’s bigger picture. The session opened with MEREBE updates from Jaana Tähtinen (BusinessOulu) and FiCCC updates from Golriz Ghonouei (BusinessOulu). Then Jussi Leponiemi (BusinessOulu) and Janne Remes (Director, University of Oulu) set the European context and, most importantly, unpacked ESRA, what it is, why it matters, and how Oulu can benefit.
What ESRA is
ESRA (European Semiconductor Regions Alliance) is a political alliance of European regions active in semiconductors. ESRA does not distribute funding directly. Instead, it shapes the policy groundwork, the papers and positions that the European Commission uses when deciding where EU efforts and resources should go. Remes highlighted that early, regional input is essential: if priorities are not voiced in ESRA, they are unlikely to be reflected when the Commission sets directions.
How ESRA works in practice
Remes outlined the Chips Act instruments ESRA engages with, such as pilot lines, competence centers and the EU design platform (which he noted is planned to start summer 2026). ESRA provides the forum where regions align on these themes and consolidate clear messages and asks. Those messages are then carried forward into the EU process. Looking ahead, Remes also noted discussion around a possible next Chips Act phase (“Chips Act 2”) in 2028, making today’s inputs even more timely.
Why ESRA matters for Oulu
Building on that, Jussi Leponiemi emphasized Europe’s need to reinforce self-reliance and Finland’s role through smart specialization. Oulu’s recognized strengths, wireless (5G/6G), RF, embedded/industrial systems, sensors and dual-use experience, give the region a credible niche in Europe. According to Leponiemi, participation in ESRA can deliver:
- International visibility for Oulu’s capabilities;
- Partnerships with other regions and major companies;
- Entry points to EU projects
- A stronger case for investments such as pilot lines and testing/validation centres in the North.
Remes added that coordinated advocacy can translate into concrete outcomes, citing Tampere’s ~€40M optoelectronics packaging pilot-line decision as an example of what determined regional work can achieve. He also stressed two enablers for Oulu:
- Talent development (especially in chip design & verification, and—in the long run—advanced packaging and materials expertise), and
- Access to shared capabilities (analysis, test, validation, packaging) that smaller companies can use without prohibitive investment.
Both speakers called for structured input from local stakeholders so Oulu can present a sharp, realistic set of priorities in ESRA, and align them nationally so the region is not a “satellite”, but an integrated part of Finland’s overall line.
Oulu Region joins ESRA
The Council of Oulu Region joined ESRA in July. Membership was confirmed on 3 July at ESRA’s Second General Assembly in Brussels, hosted at the EU Committee of the Regions. ESRA currently brings together 36 European regions to identify and remove obstacles to the sector’s strategic development by improving the legislative framework, promoting public and private investments, supporting knowledge sharing, and strengthening sustainable value chains.
Oulu is Finland’s second most important semiconductor and microelectronics region after the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. The sector’s success is central to our region’s growth, employment, and strategic positioning. Joining ESRA strengthens Oulu’s role in Europe’s semiconductor landscape, enables European partnerships, and signals a clear commitment to support local businesses, research organizations, and education institutions.
Education & talent
Janne Remes underlined that the skills challenge is real across Europe. Production and productization require a collective of roles, including process, physics, chemistry, lithography, metrology, packaging, reliability and test. He asked companies to indicate where their bottlenecks are (for example, chip design vs. verification) and at what level new talent is needed (PhD, Master’s/DI, or vocational), so the university side can adjust accordingly.
Remes also pointed to two local gaps: materials technology competence and advanced packaging know-how. On enablers, he noted that EDA tools are expensive but are treated as infrastructure, and that access to analysis/test/validation matters for both students and SMEs. These points frame how education and shared facilities should be considered in Oulu’s ESRA inputs.
AI is shaping the field
In his overview of European priorities, Remes highlighted AI chips as one of the key global drivers, the momentum is no longer only mobile. In the discussion that followed, the importance of AI-enabled approaches in design and verification was raised. This positions AI as both a market driver (AI chips) and a methodological theme for development workflows that Oulu should acknowledge in ESRA-related inputs.
Why this matters for Oulu
- Visibility where decisions are made – Ensure northern priorities are heard before EU instruments and calls are set.
- Partnership pathways – Build stronger, cross-border academia–industry consortia, the dominant model in funded initiatives.
- Route to infrastructure – Make the case for shared capabilities in the North (e.g., test & validation, advanced packaging access, pilot-line–adjacent services) that SMEs can use.
- Talent that matches demand – Elevate needs in chip design & verification, with growing demand in advanced packaging, signal/power integrity, and system integration, so training and curricula keep pace.
Want to Find Out More?
We welcome companies, researchers, and educators to co-shape Oulu’s priorities for ESRA and join proposal building.
Key contacts
– Jussi Leponiemi, Key Account Director, ICT – jussi.leponiemi@businessoulu.com
– Janne Remes, Director, Centre for Material Analysis / University of Oulu – Janne.remes@oulu.fi
There will be workshops and events where stakeholders can provide input and take part in consortium building. Please follow BusinessOulu – ICTOulu, MEREBE, and FiCCC channels for announcements