ICC News: The European Commission has approved 8.1 billion euros ($8.73 billion) in public funding to support research, innovation, and initial industrial deployment of microelectronics and communication technologies. The funds will be distributed among 56 companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises and companies such as Nokia and Ericsson, to carry out 68 projects in key areas such as 5G and 6G, autonomous mobility, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing. The program will run until 2032, with the first products expected to be launched in 2025.
The “IPCEI ME/CT” project was jointly developed and notified by 14 member states, including Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain.
Member states will provide up to 8.1 billion euros in public funding, expected to unlock an additional 13.7 billion euros of private investment. As part of the IPCEI, 56 companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises and startups, will undertake 68 projects.
The research and development projects covered by IPCEI ME/CT focus on microelectronics and communication technologies across the entire value chain, from materials and tools to chip design and manufacturing processes.
These projects aim to drive digital and environmental transformation by creating innovative microelectronics and communication solutions and developing energy-efficient and resource-saving electronic systems and manufacturing methods. They will contribute to technological advancements in many areas, such as communication (5G and 6G), autonomous driving, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing. They will also support companies actively involved in energy production, distribution, and use in green transformation.
The first new products are expected to hit the market as early as 2025, with the entire project scheduled to be completed by 2032, depending on the functionality of the project and the companies involved. It is expected to create around 8,700 direct job opportunities as well as more indirect job opportunities.
IPCEI ME/CT follows and complements the first IPCEI approved by the Commission in December 2018 to support research and innovation in microelectronics.
