Chips Pulse - November Edition
In this edition of the Chips Pulse, we share the latest updates from the Chips JU, including the start of the negotiations for a Photonic Integrated Circuits Pilot Line, and the ongoing quantum pilot calls, that will pave the way for the establishment of a manufacturing supply chain of quantum chips in Europe.
On another note, EFECS 2024, the European Forum for Electronic Components and Systems, is just around the corner! Set to take place in Ghent, Belgium, on 5-6 December 2024, this will be a key moment for networking and high-level discussions around the Chips JU initiatives. Make sure to register before November 25!
Additionally, you will also find an overview of the Chips JU participation in SEMICON Europa 2024, which was held in Munich, along with updates on upcoming events and the latest news from the semiconductor community.
Dive in to explore the updates!
EFECS 2024
Join us in Ghent, Belgium, on 5-6 December for EFECS 2024! This event will showcase the Chips JU’s mission to tackle key societal and industrial challenges through innovative ECS solutions, promoting collaboration across the EU. You'll have the opportunity to connect with industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, and innovators, and engage in high-level dialogues focused on enhancing the EU’s strategic autonomy in electronic components and supporting innovation across the value chain. Register before 25 November and visit the EFECS 2024 website for more information.
Chips JU Calls
Pilot Line on Advanced Photonic Integrated Circuits Pilot Line for Europe
The Chips JU entered negotiations to fund PIXEurope - Advanced Photonic Integrated Circuits (PIC) Pilot Line for Europe. The consortium, coordinated by the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO), includes 20 participants from across Europe. Funded by the European Union, Participating States and private organisations, this pilot line aims to establish the world’s first Open Access PIC ecosystem. Read the announcement here.
Quantum Pilots
The calls for establishing a Framework Partnership Agreement(s) for Developing Quantum Chip Technology for Stability Pilots (Chips-2024-QAC-1) and Quantum Chip Technology for high-quality Trapped Ions Pilot (Chips-2024-QAC-2) are open until 21 January 2025. Learn more about these calls on the Chips JU Website.
SEMICON Europa
The Chips JU marked its presence at SEMICON Europa 2024, that took place in Munich, from 12 to 15 November. With the theme "Innovation and Collaboration: Powering Sustainable Exponential Growth" this event highlighted the European semiconductor ecosystem's role in driving sustainable progress through innovation and collaboration.
The Chips JU booth attracted a high number of visitors eager to learn about the initiatives shaping Europe’s semiconductor future. Representatives from four pioneering pilot lines—APECS, FAMES, NanoIC, and WBG—were also present to share insights into their work.
The Chips JU’s participation extended beyond its presence in the exhibition. Jari Kinaret, Executive Director, delivered two insightful presentations: “Chips Joint Undertaking: Working Together to Strengthen European Industries" at the CXO Summit, and "Empowering Europe: Capacity Building through the Chips Act" at the ITF: Chips into the Future session. These sessions underscored the Chips JU’s vital role in fostering collaboration, advancing innovation, and supporting strategic investments to strengthen the European semiconductor sector.
40 years of R&I in Europe
To celebrate the 40 years of Research and Innovation (R&I) in Europe, DG RTD launched a booklet highlighting the incredible impact of EU research & innovation investments, which have transformed industries and driven technological progress. Over the past 40 years, the EU has invested more than €280 billion in over 120,000 projects, benefiting over 75,000 researchers, innovators, and institutions.
The project SeNaTe was selected as one of the 40 inspiring stories featured in the booklet celebrating 40 years of research and innovation! Using state-of-the-art extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography and cutting-edge material processes, the SeNaTe project pushed the boundaries of semiconductor technology, making smaller, more powerful chips a reality.
Upcoming Events
Semicon Japan 2024
🗓️ 09-13 December
📍Tokyo, Japan
A high-level trade fair bringing together companies in the field of semiconductor manufacturing technologies, processes and their diverse applications.
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Quantum Sensor Workshop 2024
🗓️10 December
📍 Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany
Clustering event for the Chips JU projects A-IQ Ready, ARCHIMEDES, and Cynergy4MIE dedicated to cutting-edge quantum sensor technologies.
News
Europe’s Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU), the European public-private partnership that supports research, development, and innovation in semiconductor technologies, is beginning negotiations with the PIXEurope consortium to establish the Advanced Photonic Integrated Circuits (PIC) Pilot Line for Europe.
Semiconductor policies, funding, and competitions are enabling industry and academia to pursue breakthroughs amidst the quest for supply chain resilience.
Photonics enables new approaches in areas where traditional technologies are running up against their physical limits. And Europe’s technological sovereignty is at stake.
In the race for semiconductor self-sufficiency, Poland has become one of Europe’s leading contenders—carving out a space for itself in a market dominated by the world’s tech giants.
Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU) is a European partnership under Horizon Europe and aims to strengthen Europe's competitiveness in semiconductor technology. Vinnova co-finances Swedish participation in the program, for example in collaborative projects and competence centers.
The first pillar of the European Semiconductor Act, the European Semiconductor Initiative, aims to bridge the gap between the EU's advanced research and innovation capabilities and industrial applications, thereby promoting semiconductor innovation and capacity building in the EU.
The National Institute for Research and Development in Microtechnology (IMT) in Bucharest announces its active participation in the European UNLOOC (Unlocking Data Content of Organ-On-Chips) project, an initiative aimed at creating innovative solutions that will minimize the use of animal testing in the research and development of new drugs.
Countries around the world are ramping up investments into their semiconductor industries as part of new or existing approaches. The increased government activity stems from growing awareness of the strategic importance of the chip sector, a desire to avoid a repeat of pandemic-era supply chain issues, and heightened geopolitical tensions, particularly between the U.S. and China.
On October 15, 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the amendments developed by the Ministry of Education and Science, enabling Latvian scientific institutions and companies to fully participate in the latest European Union (EU) programs. With funding from the "Horizon Europe" framework program, Latvia's competence in the field of microchips will be enhanced.
Stay tuned for more Chips JU updates!