The European Chips Diversity Alliance  convened the second meeting of its Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Working Group on 26 March 2026, bringing together stakeholders from across industry, academia, and training organisations to strengthen inclusive workforce development across Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem.

Building on the inaugural session held in December, the meeting continued to position the Working Group as a collaborative forum for sharing insights, aligning initiatives, and embedding DEI into Europe’s long-term semiconductor strategy.

From strategy to practice

A key theme of the discussion was the gap between DEI strategies and everyday workplace realities. Insights from ECDA’s first DEI report highlighted persistent challenges, including weak talent pipelines and limited visibility of semiconductor careers among diverse talent groups.

Participants also explored priorities for the upcoming second DEI report, which will focus on identifying what works in practice to attract and retain diverse talent, as well as addressing bias across hiring and career progression processes.

Introducing the ECDA DEI Talent Suite

The meeting featured a preview of the ECDA DEI Talent Suite from ESCP Europe‘s Stephan Schmuck – a practical toolbox designed to support organisations in translating DEI ambition into action.

The suite includes flexible training modules, operational tools, and engagement programmes aimed at addressing real-world challenges such as talent attraction, retention, and inclusive leadership.

Designed to be accessible and adaptable, the training focuses on everyday actions, leadership behaviour, and collaboration between industry and education – helping organisations embed DEI into their daily operations.

Case study: driving change through partnership

A highlight of the session was a case study presented by ManpowerGroup, showcasing a five-year partnership with a global renewable energy client.

The initiative demonstrated how sustained, data-driven action can deliver measurable impact — increasing female leadership representation from 8% to 37% through targeted sourcing, inclusive hiring practices, and structural changes.

The case study reinforced that meaningful DEI progress requires long-term commitment, leadership engagement, and strong collaboration between stakeholders.

Looking ahead

The Working Group also reviewed progress on the upcoming ECDA DEI Report 2, which will focus on retaining technical talent – a critical challenge for the semiconductor sector.

With a combination of research, training, and collaborative exchange, the DEI Working Group continues to play a key role in shaping a more inclusive and future-ready semiconductor workforce in Europe.

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Victoria Cummings from SEMI Europe will present on “Addressing the Talent Gap through Education and Inclusion.” As a driving force behind the European Chips Skills Academy, Victoria has been instrumental in taking this initiative from strength to strength, ensuring Europe is equipped in the coming years with the talent needed to solve the workforce riddle. She will also speak about ECDA and the role our project is playing to promote a workforce that is inclusive of the world that we live in.

Maria Daniela Perez will lead a panel discussion on “Empowering Europe’s Workforce: Addressing Talent Gaps for Sustainable Growth.” Joining her on the panel are some of the brightest minds shaping the future of Europe’s workforce:

🔹Andreas SCHLEICHER, Director for Education and Skills, OECD – OCDE
🔹Meike Boekelmann, Chief Human Resources Officer, Comet
🔹Thomas Kralinski, Saxon State Secretary of Economic Affairs, Labour, Energy, and Climate
🔹Catherine Le Lan de Franssu, European University Program Manager, Synopsys Inc

This discussion will tackle the critical talent shortages in microelectronics and explore how Europe can attract, retain, and upskill talent for long-term, sustainable industry growth. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion must be at the heart of this transformation. A thriving workforce is an inclusive workforce, and the steps we take today will define Europe’s position in the global semiconductor race.

🔗 We’ll be there! Will you https://lnkd.in/eipzhcTe

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