The New Architecture of Power: Materials, Chips and the Geopolitics of Innovation

Semiconductors have become the invisible infrastructure of the 21st century, enabling everything from artificial intelligence and advanced communications to energy systems and national security. Yet behind every chip lies a deeper and often overlooked story: the scientific race to design, understand and control the materials that make technological progress possible.

This talk explores how innovations in materials science, ranging from wide-bandgap oxides and quantum-ready nanostructures to new manufacturing paradigms, are reshaping global competition. By connecting advances in fundamental research with the structure of semiconductor supply chains, we will examine how nations build (or lose) technological advantage. The talk will contrast the strategic approaches of the United States, Europe and Asia, highlighting the interplay between scientific capability, industrial policy, talent, and geopolitics.

Ultimately, the presentation argues that the new architecture of global power is being written not only in assembly lines, but in laboratories: in the ability to engineer matter, control defects, innovate at the nanoscale, and transfer scientific knowledge into resilient and competitive ecosystems. Understanding this science-strategy nexus is essential for navigating the technological landscape of the coming decades.

Ana Cremades, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, RCCH Fellow

Visiting Scholar at SEAS-Harvard, Visiting Scientist at MTL-MIT