European Secure Silicon Foundry Champions — Why They Matter for Allied Autonomy
The strategic relevance of defence-grade microelectronics is rapidly expanding. As semiconductors move to the heart of weapons systems, space platforms and digital command networks, the question of who builds the chips—and where—has become critical to allied autonomy. This report examines the rise of European “secure silicon foundry champions”: a category of fabrication plants and chipmakers equipped to deliver trusted, resilient, defence-grade microelectronics. It explores how the EU Chips Act, new security-of-supply policies, and institutional investment are shaping a distinct ecosystem—one that goes beyond headline fabs to include low-volume, radiation-hardened, and military-certified production. For investors, planners and institutions, this analysis offers a structural view of how secure silicon has become an operational constraint—and an industrial opportunity.