On June 23 (local time), IPC officially rebranded as the Global Electronics Association, marking a new chapter that reflects the organization's expanded scope beyond printed circuit boards to the broader electronics industry. Guided by the vision of “Better electronics for a better world,” the Global Electronics Association (electronics.org) is committed to enhancing global supply chain resilience and fostering industry growth through collaboration with over 3,000 member companies, thousands of partners, and dozens of governments worldwide.

“The Board's support and approval of this transformation shows our collective recognition that the electronics industry has fundamentally changed,” said Tom Edman, Board Chair of the Global Electronics Association and President & CEO of TTM Technologies. “The Association has expanded well beyond its beginnings in PCBs — we're enabling AI, autonomous vehicles, next-gen communications, and more. With our new name, we will deepen partnerships between governments and industry, drive investment and innovation, and help reduce supply chain disruptions.”

As part of its renewed mission, the Association is increasing investments in advocacy, market intelligence, and stakeholder engagement. It now represents a full ecosystem of subsectors — from OEMs and semiconductors to materials, assembly, and equipment — all critical to a robust electronics supply chain.

“Electronics today are the backbone of all industries, making the supply chain critical to economies, governments, and daily life,” said Dr. John W. Mitchell, President and CEO of the Global Electronics Association. “Our new mission allows us to engage more meaningfully with industry and members worldwide to promote the importance of electronics in an ever-changing world.”

The Association will retain the IPC brand for its globally recognized standards and certification programs, which ensure product quality and reliability. Meanwhile, the IPC Education Foundation has been renamed the Electronics Foundation, continuing its focus on solving talent challenges across the electronics workforce.

Electronics Trade Now Accounts for One-Fifth of Global Merchandise Trade

To mark the rebranding, the Association also released a new study on global electronics trade flows. The report highlights the critical and growing role of electronics in global commerce, revealing that electronics now account for more than 20% of total global merchandise trade, with $4.5 trillion in electronics traded globally in 2023 — including $2.5 trillion in components alone.

Key findings include:

 ● Electronics supply chains are more globally integrated than any other industry, surpassing even the automotive sector in cross-border complexity.

 ● Trade in intermediate inputs like semiconductors and connectors now exceeds that of finished goods like smartphones and laptops.

 ● Leading exporters such as China, Vietnam, and India are also among the fastest-growing importers of electronic components, underscoring deep global interdependence.

This interconnectedness, the Association notes, challenges the viability of decoupling and reshoring strategies. “Resilience, not self-sufficiency, is the foundation of competitiveness in the electronics age,” said Mitchell. “No single company or country can stand alone. The complexity of our industry demands partnership.”

Supporting the Full Global Electronics Value Chain

The Global Electronics Association supports the entire electronics value chain — from design to final product — including OEMs, semiconductors, PCBs, manufacturing services, cable harnesses, materials, and equipment. The Association maintains operations in Belgium, China, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan, and the United States, with a presence in dozens more countries to support its global member base.

By evolving its identity and expanding its global role, the Global Electronics Association aims to be a unifying force in building a resilient, innovative, and collaborative electronics industry worldwide.