About this publication
Technology governance refers to the set of processes, institutions, and mechanisms through which governments, corporations, and other stakeholders influence the development, diffusion, and application of technology. These mechanisms include regulatory frameworks, standards-setting, risk assessment, oversight mechanisms, and participatory approaches that shape technological trajectories and their societal impacts.
The adoption of the European Chips Act in 2023 was not merely an industrial investment initiative; it represented a broader institutional effort by the European Union to establish a coordinated framework for semiconductor research, production capacity, market monitoring, and supply-chain security. Through this framework, the EU sought to actively shape the development of a strategically important technology sector and strengthen its role in the global semiconductor ecosystem.
Technology does not develop in isolation. The rules governing investment, safety, competition, intellectual property, and access to technological capabilities significantly influence which technologies are developed, how they evolve, and who benefits from their advancement. Therefore, technology governance constitutes an essential dimension of power politics and plays a critical role in shaping innovation pathways and the future technological order.