Clean technologies, clear words: Appeal for more focus on SMEs in chip funding

Saxony’s Minister of State for Economic Affairs, Labour and Transport, Dirk Panter, visited DAS Environmental Expert GmbH. The visit highlights the central role of Saxony’s environmental technologies in an international context. At the same time, it recognises DAS EE’s position as a global player that occupies a key position with its solutions for exhaust gas and water treatment, particularly in the semiconductor industry and in areas such as LED and nanotechnologies.

During a tour of the company, Minister Panter learned about the multi-million investment to expand production capacities and new DAS products for the high-tech industry. The development prospects for DAS EE in Saxony and what the billion-euro investments by the four major semiconductor manufacturers Infineon, Bosch, GlobalFoundries and ESMC mean for medium-sized suppliers were also discussed. In addition to an intensive exchange with CEO René Reichardt, who was named ‘Saxony’s Entrepreneur of the Year’ in 2023, the focus was also on the challenges and opportunities for medium-sized companies in international competition. Reichardt, who is also a member of the executive committee of the industry association Silicon Saxony e.V., took the opportunity to present his company’s growth plans to the Minister for Economic Affairs and to address key concerns of Saxony’s SMEs in the semiconductor industry. In his dual role, he made it clear that SMEs in particular must not be overlooked by the future federal government.

‘In order to keep pace with global competition in microelectronics, Germany needs more than just announcements; it needs implementation in reality for small and medium-sized businesses. Calls for funding, such as for the EU Chips Act 2.0, must be communicated well in advance so that small and medium-sized businesses with limited resources can also contribute their innovative strength. In addition, we need a clear, binding and SME-friendly approach to IPCEI projects and access to a dedicated semiconductor SME fund with simplified procedures. Anyone who is serious about the resilience of our industrial value chain must also invest specifically in the resilience of small and medium-sized suppliers. This applies to access to skilled workers, energy issues and digital infrastructure. Only if the semiconductor strategy also reaches small and medium-sized enterprises will Germany remain technologically sovereign and economically strong in the long term,’ says René Reichardt.

Mirko Heinze, COO Water Treatment at DAS Environmental Experts (Director of the Water Treatment Division), explained how the company is contributing to the sustainable reduction of water consumption in the semiconductor industry with its comprehensive technological expertise. Using concrete examples, he showed how treated process water can be reused several times through reuse concepts – an approach that not only conserves resources but also helps to reliably comply with the strictest environmental regulations. DAS EE’s tailor-made solutions are used by leading chip manufacturers worldwide and are specifically designed to meet the complex requirements of modern semiconductor production.

Dirk Panter went on to emphasise that DAS Environmental Expert GmbH is a prime example of what makes Saxony’s economy so special. Innovative strength, international orientation and a strong sense of responsibility for sustainable industrial development are the company’s core strengths. Such companies are indispensable for Saxony as a business location.
DAS Environmental Experts develops, manufactures and sells highly specialised systems for cleaning industrial exhaust gases and wastewater worldwide. The solutions are used in the semiconductor industry as well as in the LED, solar and electronics sectors, among others. From its headquarters in Dresden, the company employs more than 950 people in nine branches on three continents and makes an important contribution to reducing the environmental impact of modern manufacturing processes. As a driving force for a clean high-tech industry, DAS EE sees itself as a reliable partner in the global transformation to environmentally friendly production and as a representative of Saxony’s high-performance environmental industry with international appeal.