Designing an African Semiconductor Participation Framework (ASPF): A Systems Engineering Approach to Building Resilient, Inclusive, and Sustainable Manufacturing Ecosystems

This study introduces the African Semiconductor Participation Framework (ASPF), a systems-engineering model for how African economies can strategically enter the global semiconductor value chain without first pursuing capital-intensive wafer fabrication. Rather than treating semiconductor industrialization as a single manufacturing challenge, the framework positions it as an interconnected system spanning talent development, chip design services, assembly, packaging, testing, smart manufacturing, and innovation ecosystems. The study makes two original contributions: the ASPF Maturity Index, a benchmarking tool for assessing national readiness across human capital, innovation ecosystem, manufacturing capability, infrastructure, and policy/investment readiness; and a Digital Twin Model for simulating semiconductor ecosystem development and policy scenarios before real-world investment. These tools are applied to a Nigeria case study, including SWOT and PESTLE analyses, a comparative assessment against South Korea, a 2040 roadmap, and an empirical survey of engineering student workforce readiness. The findings offer a practical, evidence-based pathway for policymakers, universities, and industry stakeholders seeking to build resilient, inclusive, and sustainable semiconductor participation in emerging economies — prioritizing realistic near-term entry points (talent, design, assembly/packaging/testing) over premature investment in advanced fabrication.