As artificial intelligence (AI) technology expands beyond servers and the cloud to 'on-device AI,' which performs computations directly on the device itself, microcontroller units (MCUs) with built-in AI capabilities are emerging as core semiconductors across various industries. With the acceleration of smartification in home appliances, automobiles, and industrial equipment, the demand for low-power, high-performance MCUs is expanding.

Competition among global companies surrounding AI MCUs is expected to intensify at 'Electronica 2026,' the world's largest electronics exhibition to be held in Munich, Germany, from November 10 to 13. According to the organizers, the top six companies—STMicroelectronics, NXP, Infineon, Renesas, Texas Instruments (TI), and Microchip—along with the global distribution platform DigiKey, have confirmed their participation.

According to market research firm Fortune Business Insights, the global MCU market is projected to reach $51.3 billion by 2028. Of this, the IoT MCU market is analyzed to grow from $6.8 billion in 2025 to $19.8 billion in 2034, showing an average annual growth rate of 12.5%. This is attributed to the simultaneous increase in demand for real-time data processing and low-power operation in the smart home, industrial automation, and medical device sectors.

An MCU is a structure that integrates the functions of reading sensor signals and controlling components into a single chip, and recently, it has been evolving into AI MCUs equipped with built-in Neural Processing Units (NPUs). In an on-device AI environment, a key feature is that data is processed immediately within the device without being transmitted to an external server, thereby increasing response speed and reducing power consumption.

However, it is known that the top six companies account for more than 80% of the global market. Given the high dependence on overseas sources for industrial and automotive MCUs, domestic companies are seeking to enter the European supply chain. This is the background behind the decision by domestic fabless companies, including Above Semiconductor, to participate in the exhibition.

Samsung Electronics has also confirmed its participation and plans to expand into the European market, focusing on automotive memory and automotive semiconductor solutions. The industry anticipates that the competition for dominance in the automotive semiconductor sector will intensify, with Europe serving as the hub of the automotive industry.

"An industry official said, 'As this event involves the large-scale participation of global automakers and parts suppliers, it will serve as an opportunity to demonstrate technological competitiveness.'"

Meanwhile, 'Electronica 2026' is currently recruiting participating companies, and inquiries regarding participation can be made through the Messe Munich Korea office.