The EU invests 8 billion euros in state aid in chips and microelectronics
The EU has approved an amount of €8.1 billion state aid package to boost chip development, aiming to strengthen the bloc’s microelectronics and communications sector.
The grant falls under “Important Projects of Common European Interest” (IPCEI) – an initiative that facilitates access to public funds.
The IPCEI will implement 68 projects in 14 Member States: Germany, France, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Poland, Romania, Spain and Slovakia.
It will involve a total of 56 companies – from major players such as Airbus and ASML to start-ups and SMEs – and more than 30 associated partners in five additional member states.
The projects will focus on research and development of “resource-efficient technologies and components”, including chips, sensors and processors; new materials and tools; and chip design and manufacturing processes.
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“Microchips are the backbone of innovation and of Europe’s industrial competitiveness in a digital world”, said Margrethe Vestager, Executive VP responsible for competition policy. “We need to be pioneers and develop truly innovative solutions and their first industrial deployment in Europe.”
The aim of the IPCEI is to use the emerging technologies for the advancement of multiple sectors, including 5G and 6G telecom, autonomous driving, AI and quantum computing.
The first products could enter the market as early as 2025, but the overall completion of the projects is expected in 2032. By then, the IPCEI hopes to have unlocked an additional €13.7 billion in private investment, increasing the total impact on € 22 billion coming.
Meanwhile, the EU is putting the finishing touches to her Chip law with the aim of boosting domestic semiconductor chip production and capturing at least 20% of global market share by 2030.
