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Tuesday, November 10, 2026
	Chips Act 2.0 – Building Europe’s Trusted Semiconductor Alliances
14:00	Opening remarks by session chair
	Christopher Frieling, Director Advocacy and Public Policy, SEMI Europe close Opening remarks by session chair Christopher Frieling Director Advocacy and Public Policy SEMI Europe Abstract Opening remarks by session chair Biography Christopher Frieling is Director for Advocacy and Public Policy and Head of office at the SEMI Europe Brussels Office. He has a background in EU affairs, innovation, and tech policy. Mr. Frieling has 15+ years of experience in Brussels and leads SEMI's team for advocay and oversees all of SEMI's engagement in European projects. Prior to SEMI he worked at the Brussels office of Fraunhofer in several roles including most recently as Senior Advisor. Mr. Frieling holds an MSc in Economics of Science and Innovation and a Bachelor of Business Administration.
14:05	Chips Act 2.0 and International Collaboration, Arian Zwegers, Deputy Head of Unit, DG CONNECT (Unit C.3)
14:20	ICOS²: Driving International Cooperation on Semiconductors
	Giorgos Fagas, Director of Strategic Development, Tyndall National Institute close ICOS²: Driving International Cooperation on Semiconductors Giorgos Fagas Director of Strategic Development Tyndall National Institute Abstract As Europe shapes a potential Chips Act 2.0, trusted international partnerships will be essential for strengthening resilience, competitiveness, and technological leadership. ICOS² (International Cooperation on Semiconductor Innovation and Supply Resilience) is a Horizon Europe initiative designed to support this ambition by providing evidence-based insights and strategic recommendations to inform European semiconductor policy and cooperation with key global partners.This presentation will highlight how ICOS² identifies opportunities for collaboration with leading semiconductor ecosystems, helping Europe build more resilient supply chains, accelerate innovation, and reinforce its position in the global value chain. The presentation will also discuss how ICOS² can contribute to the implementation of a future Chips Act 2.0 by providing practical pathways for international engagement, joint research and innovation activities, talent exchange, and strategic industrial cooperation. Biography Pr Giorgos Fagas (PhD, MBA) is Director of Strategic Development at Tyndall National Institute and a member of its Executive Leadership Team, where he shapes the institute’s international strategy and leads major cross-cutting initiatives. An expert in advanced semiconductors, nanoelectronics and quantum technologies, he has played a central role in European research and innovation, contributing to Ireland’s Silicon Island strategy and the EU Chips Act through the implementation of pilot lines such as FAMES, horizon scanning and coordinating numerous EU-funded projects. Advancing international collaboration, expanding pilot line activities, and driving technology foresight efforts that strengthen Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem and global partnerships, Giorgos is the Director of SiNANO and coordinator of the ICOS² EU Coordination and Support Action on ‘International Cooperation on Semiconductor Innovation and Supply Resilience’.
14:35	Panel discussion Panel Discussion: Connecting Europe’s Capabilities with Trusted Partners
Moderation	Stefano Ramundo Orlando, Advocacy Manager, SEMI Europe close Stefano Ramundo Orlando Advocacy Manager SEMI Europe Biography As Europe moves towards the implementation of the Chips Act 2.0, strengthening international partnerships will be essential to building a more resilient, secure and competitive semiconductor ecosystem. Europe’s position across the semiconductor value chain depends not only on strengthening domestic capabilities, but also on deeper cooperation with trusted partners, including the US, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.This session will examine how the Chips Act 2.0 can reinforce Europe’s strategic positioning and translate international partnerships into practical cooperation on supply chain resilience, technology, investment and innovation. It will also explore the role of initiatives such as ICOS in connecting European capabilities with trusted international ecosystems.
Panelists	Oliver Schenk, Member of the European Parliament close Oliver Schenk Member of the European Parliament Biography Oliver Schenk has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2024 and serves as rapporteur in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy for the Chips Act 2.0. In this role, he is leading the Parliament’s work on Europe’s future semiconductor policy. Before entering the European Parliament, he served from 2017 to 2024 as a Minister of State in Saxony and Head of the Saxon State Chancellery, including responsibility for European and federal affairs. Over the course of his career, he has held senior positions in both state and federal government, including in the fields of policy planning, digitalisation and technology. His work focuses on strengthening Europe’s industrial competitiveness and technological resilience. Frédérique Le Grevès, President France & EVP Europe and France Public Affairs, STMicroelectronics close Frédérique Le Grevès President France & EVP Europe and France Public Affairs STMicroelectronics Biography Frédérique Le Grevès is STMicroelectronics’ Executive Vice President, Europe and France Public Affairs. She has also held the position of President of STMicroelectronics France since March 2021.In 1990, Le Grevès started her career in marketing and communication for various international companies in Europe and in the US. From 1995 to 2003, she worked at Aptiv (ex-Delphi Automotive) as EMEA Communication Director. In 2003, Le Grevès joined Nissan Motors as VP Communication for Europe and in 2004, she moved to Los Angeles as VP Communications for Nissan Americas. Le Grevès returned to France in 2008 and joined the Renault Group as Global VP for Corporate Communication. Two years later, she expanded her role to Global VP of Communications and Deputy to the Chief Marketing and Communication officer. In 2011, Le Grevès was appointed Chief of Staff for the Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance Chairman and CEO. More recently, she worked as senior advisor for several companies helping on corporate effectiveness, operations efficiency, and brand reputation.Le Grevès has been an independent board member of the Supervisory Board of TRIGO Holding from May 2021 to December 2024 and sat on the Strategic Board of Clinatec since October 2021. She is also an independent Director of the Supervisory Board of North Atlantic (formerly Esso SAS) and became a member of their audit committee in June 2024. In 2022, Le Grevès was appointed President of the Strategic Committee for the Electronics Industry sector in France, and in June 2025 became President of the newly created French Electronics Federation (FdEF). She has also been Vice President of the European Semiconductor Industry Association (ESIA) since 2023. Le Grevès was promoted Knight of the Legion of Honor by the French Ministry of Economy and Finance in January 2023.Born in Suresnes, France, in 1967, Frédérique Le Grevès graduated with a master’s degree in business management from the Paris School of Business (1991) and graduated from the Senior Executive Program at the London Business School (2019). Benedikt Ernst, SVP and Head of Strategy and Transformation, Merck KGaA close Benedikt Ernst SVP and Head of Strategy and Transformation Merck KGaA Biography Benedikt Ernst is the SVP and Head of Strategy and Transformation at the Electronics business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. As a member of the Electronics Executive Committee, he is responsible for the end-to-end strategic development and transformation of the business sector, encompassing market competitive intelligence, strategic roadmap, business transformation programs, and business and portfolio development. He joined Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany in 2006, and has had various management positions. Since 2018, he has been heading Strategy and Business Development for Electronics and Semiconductor. Before he was Commercial Director for the Semiconductor business and Head of Packaging Business Field. Benedikt Ernst studied physics at the Technical University of Munich and at the Max Planck Institute of Plasma Physics.
15:20	Closing events by session chair