Merten Koolen | Industry Relations and Trade Programs, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Through his work with international lobby groups, Merten Koolen seeks a win-win between our business interests and our role as a member of society. He's seen, first hand, how legislation and industrial policy can influence our future.

Merten has been involved with industry associations and trade groups for more than ten years, helping to increase cooperation within the industry, remove barriers to free trade, and support growth.

“Working with these groups can take stamina,” he says. Proposals can take years to develop, since the processes for government regulation and decision-making - especially in an international context - are so complex. “But when changes do come, they can immediately have a big impact.”

He's been involved with a wide range of subjects, from traderelated issues to studies that analyze trends and anticipate growth of the industry overall. As NXP's representative to the European Semiconductor Industry Association (ESIA), for instance, he's supported initiatives for keeping international trade and customs regulations in line with developments in semiconductor technology, and reducing import tariffs on new types of semiconductor products. He's also participated in ESIA's lobbying efforts, addressing such key issues as Europe's competitiveness and retaining Europe's attractiveness as a business region, in order to further European employment as well as the semiconductor industry itself.

He finds that, if one looks beyond the surface, much of what he does can, in one way or another, have an impact on society or the environment. Consider, for example, the issue of counterfeit ICs. What might appear to be a strictly legal issue, involving corporate brands and intellectual property (IP) rights, can, in fact, have a direct effect on everyday people. “If counterfeit ICs don't meet functional or quality requirements,” he explains, “they can do more than cause confusion in the market. If they're used in cars, or airplanes, or healthcare equipment, for example, they could raise concerns about safety, as well.”

When asked what the future holds, Merten observes that “increasingly, societal and regulatory challenges need to be addressed internationally.” He points to NXP's involvement with the World Semiconductor Council (WSC), an industry organization that brings together industry representatives from China, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), Europe, Japan, Korea, and the US. “When the WSC meets with governments, our industry is addressing representatives from six geographical areas at once. It's dialog at the highest levels, and that can have a real impact.”