SUSS MicroTec SE – Strategic-Technological Analysis for European Autonomy
SUSS MicroTec SE is a German semiconductor equipment manufacturer at the forefront of advanced packaging and lithography processes. Founded in 1949 and now headquartered in Garching near Munich, the company has evolved from a local precision optics outfit into a global supplier of highly specialized microfabrication machinery[1][2]. Its tools—ranging from photomask processing systems to wafer bonders—are vital in producing the microchips that power modern defense, space, and communications technologies. In an era when secure semiconductor supply chains have become a strategic priority for Europe, SUSS MicroTec offers home-grown engineering solutions that reduce reliance on extra-EU suppliers. The firm’s deep ties with European research institutions and decades of niche expertise position it as an unsung enabler of Europe’s technological sovereignty. As NATO allies and EU policymakers seek to bolster deterrence and resilience through cutting-edge electronics, SUSS MicroTec’s role in providing the infrastructure for secure chip manufacturing has taken on newfound significance. This report examines how the company’s capabilities align with Europe’s strategic autonomy objectives and transatlantic defense cooperation imperatives, shedding light on a critical yet often overlooked node of the semiconductor supply chain.