Canada and Germany have formalized a partnership aimed at building more resilient semiconductor supply chains, signing a joint declaration on the sidelines of the IEA’s annual energy conference. The agreement establishes a framework for policy dialogue and deeper cooperation on investment, industrial development, technology, and research between the two countries.
Carlos Leitão, Canada’s parliamentary secretary to the minister of industry, and Stefan Rouenhoff, Germany’s parliamentary state secretary for economic affairs and energy, signed the declaration. It builds on a broader bilateral collaboration already underway, including a joint declaration signed in February 2026 to advance cooperation on auto and battery manufacturing and critical minerals.
Semiconductors are increasingly viewed through a national security lens, with governments worldwide racing to diversify supply chains that remain heavily concentrated in Taiwan, South Korea, and China. The Canada-Germany pact signals a push by mid-tier semiconductor players to strengthen their position in the global ecosystem through trusted bilateral ties, rather than relying solely on the existing Asian manufacturing base.
The agreement also aligns with Canada’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which identifies semiconductors as a critical enabler of AI infrastructure. Both countries said the partnership would support the growth of startups, scale-ups, and small and medium-sized enterprises active in chip design and manufacturing.
Neither government disclosed specific funding commitments or investment targets as part of the declaration. The partnership is structured as a framework for ongoing policy coordination rather than a direct funding program, though both sides indicated it could facilitate future private-sector investment between the two countries.
