Prompt or Perish? How AI is Revolutionising Skills, Hiring & Workplace Ethics

When: Tuesday, November 10 | 3:45 pm – 5:00 pm

Where: Messe Munich, TechARENA, Hall B0

Don’t miss ECDA at SEMICON 2026!

Europe’s semiconductor ambitions are dependent on having a skilled workforce to support an industry that is growing and changing. Simultaneously, AI is revolutionising the way people work, the skills that are sought by employers, and increasingly, how companies recruit and develop their workforce.

Drawing on work from the European Chips Skills Academy, the European Chips Diversity Alliance and RESCHIP4EU, this session looks at what these changes mean for Europe’s semiconductor workforce. Together with industry representatives and others working across the semiconductor ecosystem, we will explore how skills needs are changing, how AI is being used in the workplace, and what companies can do to broaden access to opportunities, attract talent from different backgrounds and create workplaces where people want to stay and progress.

The session will also look at the role of education and training in preparing people for a sector that is changing quickly, the barriers that can prevent people from entering and progressing within the industry, and how the industry can remain attractive and accessible to the next generation of talent.

When: 19 November 2026

Where: École d’ingénieurs Denis-Diderot, Université Paris Cité, 8 Place Paul Ricoeur, 75013 Paris

On 19 November 2026, the Inclusive Chips Forum comes to Paris. One morning, one question: what would it take for more people to picture a future for themselves in semiconductors?

Whether you’re a student wondering if chips are for you, a teacher, or someone already working in the industry, there will be something for you. We’ll start with a look inside the fab, then hear how very different paths, through engineering school, industry and research, led to the same place. We’ll talk about what inclusive practices look like in a university and in a company, and a sociologist will help us see diversity in STEM through a different lens.

Take a look at the agenda:

Three meetings in, one thing is clear: this group doesn’t just talk about inclusion in the abstract. It shows up with data, case studies, and tools people can actually use back at their own organisations. On 24 September, the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Working Group of the European Chips Skills Alliance reconvenes for its fourth session, and this one lands at a genuinely useful moment, as the 2026 DEI Report is launching this same month.

A quick look back

Since the first meeting in December 2025, the group has grown from an opening conversation into a working forum with real substance behind it:

In March, ManpowerGroup shared a five-year partnership case study that took female leadership representation from 8% to 37%. That’s concrete proof that sustained, targeted action moves the needle.
In June, imec introduced its Diversity Fresk workshop, adapting a methodology from climate education to help teams build a shared understanding of DEI through discussion rather than one-way training.
Across both sessions, the ECDA DEI Talent Suite has taken shape as a practical toolbox: training modules, operational tools, and engagement programmes designed to turn DEI intentions into everyday practice.
The pattern across all three meetings is the same: less theory, more of what’s actually working, told by the people who tried it.

Join the conversation this September

The Working Group is open to anyone with relevant DEI experience, from semiconductor companies, universities, VET providers, Chips Competence Centres, or public organisations, as well as experts from other sectors with insights worth sharing. If you’ve been meaning to join, even just to listen and take note, this session is a strong place to start.

When: 4 September 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Where: Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 3, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia

For whom: Educators and education managers from HE and VET institutions, HR professionals and other company representatives.

The aim of the training is to strengthen the capacity of academic educators and industry representatives to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) along the pathway from education to employment. The training combines an understanding of key dimensions of diversity with practical approaches to inclusive talent development. Participants will gain knowledge and skills that will help them attract, develop, and retain diverse talent in STEM disciplines and semiconductor-related sectors. Through interactive learning, self-reflection, and real-world case studies, participants will deepen their understanding of diversity and organisational culture while developing skills in inclusive leadership, allyship, and cross-sector collaboration.

Meet the trainers:

Kerstin Alfes is a Professor of Organisation and Human Resource Management at ESCP Business School, Berlin campus. Her research focuses on strategic human resource management, neurodiversity, employee engagement, and new ways of working. She has published in leading international academic journals and has received research funding from several major academic and industry institutions.

Stephan Schmuck is a lecturer at ESCP Business School, Berlin campus, where he teaches liberal arts and diversity & inclusion. He developed Europe’s first LGBT+ leadership programme and is actively involved in curriculum development. His areas of expertise include strategic diversity implementation, inclusive leadership, and economic history.

When: 2 September 2026

Where: Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 3, 841 04 Bratislava, Slovakia

For whom: Teachers and educators, representatives of higher education institutions, vocational education and training (VET) providers, industry representatives, policymakers, and other relevant stakeholders.

Language of the event: Slovak and English (with simultaneous interpretation)

The next Inclusive Chips Forum will take place in Bratislava this September 2nd, 2026, and it will explore how collaboration between academia and industry can help attract, develop, and retain diverse talent for the semiconductor sector. Bringing together representatives from higher education institutions, industry, and European initiatives, the event will provide a platform for sharing experiences, discussing challenges, and highlighting inspiring practices from across Europe and Slovakia. The programme will address questions such as:

• How can more inclusive academic environments contribute to attracting and retaining diverse talent?
• What role do university leadership, educators, and institutional culture play in this process?
• How can universities and employers work together to support diverse talent pathways into semiconductor careers?
• Which European and Slovak examples of good practice can serve as inspiration?

Don’t miss either the workshop Diversity in Action: Bridging Education and Industry for Diverse Talent, taking place two days later on Friday, September 4th, at Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava. Get all the details and register here.

Take a look at the agenda:

Meet the speakers:

📅 Dates: weekly, 22 July to 19 August
⏰ Time: 2PM CET

About the Webinar

The European Chips Diversity Alliance (ECDA) brings together academia, industry, and policymakers to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across Europe’s microelectronics sector. By lowering barriers for underrepresented groups, ECDA helps unlock the missing talent crucial for Europe’s growth, competitiveness, and innovation.

This webinar series will explore how educators, industry representatives, and workforce development professionals can work together to strengthen the semiconductor talent pipeline and attract more diverse talent into microelectronics career. Topics will include:

• Increasing awareness of semiconductor careers among diverse student populations
• Building stronger partnerships between industry and education
• Addressing barriers to participation in STEM pathways
• Sharing successful initiatives and practical case studies from across Europe

Register now to reserve your place, connect with expert panelists, and help shape a more inclusive, innovative, and powerful future for Europe’s semiconductor industry.

Take a look at the detailed agenda:

Join us and shape the future of the microelectronics industry!

Today, I-C3, Ireland’s Chips Competence Centre, has appointed Mary Finegan as its new Director, and we couldn’t be more pleased to share the news.

As a valued member of the ECDA Diversity in Chips Leadership Board, Mary has been a strong advocate for strengthening Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem through collaboration between industry, academia and public stakeholders.

Mary’s experience and leadership will be instrumental in helping grow Ireland’s semiconductor ecosystem, and we look forward to continuing our work together to support a more diverse, skilled and resilient semiconductor workforce across Europe.

We wish Mary best of luck in this new role!