Marking a quarter of the way through the century, 2025 is a pivotal year for global manufacturing and sustainable manufacturing goals. But are we on track to achieve them? Here, Ross Turnbull, Director of Business Development and Product Engineering at ASIC design and supply specialist Swindon Silicon Systems, investigates current progress and how a better-connected, custom IC-driven world may enable future advancement.
The Big Switch to EVs and the Challenges Ahead
One of the most ambitious goals for the next decade is transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs), essential for reducing carbon emissions and addressing climate change.
Challenges like limited battery range, insufficient charging infrastructure, and supply chain bottlenecks for critical materials like lithium have slowed EV progress. However, despite this, the market continues to grow. According to the Global Electric Vehicle Tracker, fully electric vehicles accounted for one in seven cars sold worldwide in mid-2024.
Growth in the EV sector has been propelled by advancements in battery technology and sensors, enabling features such as tyre pressure monitoring, optimised battery management, and assisted braking.
Governments have also incentivised EV adoption through investments in charging infrastructure and subsidies. Furthermore, the UK’s 2024 zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) mandate, which became law in January 2024, requires all new cars and vans to be zero-emission by 2035.
A Greener Future and Carbon Neutrality
Achieving carbon neutrality is another defining goal of the 21st century. The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015, aims to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. However, the first global stocktake at COP28 revealed that the world is off track, with fossil fuel emissions still rising.
Recognising this, the UK government has made strides toward its legally binding target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. At COP29 in Baku, Prime Minister Keir Starmer committed to an 81 per cent reduction in emissions by 2035, compared to 1990 levels. As the Great British Energy Bill outlines, transitioning towards renewable energy is key to achieving this goal.
Smarter Manufacturing and the Role of Industry 4.0
Central to meeting sustainable manufacturing goals is the adoption of smarter manufacturing processes. Industry 4.0 has revolutionised production by integrating automation, AI, and the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies.
Many large corporations have embraced Industry 4.0. For example, BMW now uses AI-controlled robots to automate car production, boosting efficiency and precision. While smaller businesses face adoption challenges due to high costs, interest in smart manufacturing is growing. The 2024 State of Smart Manufacturing Report by Rockwell Automation revealed that 95 per cent of manufacturers have adopted or plan to adopt smart technologies.
Generative AI and machine learning are set to transform robotics, enabling dynamic problem-solving in production lines, reducing downtime, and improving efficiency. Similarly, sensor-enabled digital twins — virtual replicas of physical systems — are accelerating as tools for predictive maintenance and system optimisation. AI-powered energy management solutions are also emerging, helping factories reduce their carbon footprints while enhancing efficiency.
Making Sensors Smarter for a Sustainable Future
Smart sensors are crucial to achieving sustainable manufacturing goals and innovation goals. However, selecting the right hardware for sensor interfaces is essential for high-precision applications.
Application-Specific ICs (ASICs) are ideal for advanced sensor applications, offering custom-engineered solutions tailored to specific needs. Unlike general-purpose ICs, ASICs provide precise functionality, from signal conditioning to advanced communication, ensuring unmatched efficiency.
Furthermore, analogue and digital capabilities can be combined into a single, mixed-signal ASIC design. This integration enables real-time feedback for predictive systems and high-precision data acquisition for autonomous machines.
ASICs also minimise size and complexity by consolidating multiple components into one compact chip. This makes them ideal for space-constrained and embedded applications, ensuring sensors deliver the speed and accuracy required in systems like electric vehicle battery monitoring and automated manufacturing.
The Importance of ASICs in Achieving Sustainable Manufacturing Goals
With ambitious goals ahead, custom IC-enabled technologies are pivotal to driving progress. Advancements in sensor-based systems powered by ASICs will be critical for developing safer, more efficient technologies in key industries such as automotive and manufacturing. As we look to 2025 and beyond, ASICs will be key to shaping a connected and sustainable world, driving sustainable manufacturing goals forward in the coming years.
