News item | 16-12-2024 | 12:42
European knowledge centers for semiconductors – so-called Chips Competence Centers – are crucial to further grow the technology, competition and innovation in this sector. The European Commission has approved ChipNL CC, a consortium that wants to set up the Dutch knowledge center in the Brainport Eindhoven and Twente regions. Public financing of 12 million euros is available for this through the EU Chips Act. €8 million comes from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and €4 million from the EU.
The knowledge centers will soon offer, for example, technical expertise in the field of semiconductors, quantum and photonics. This gives startups, scale-ups in the SME sector and their suppliers in particular faster and easier access to new markets, growth financing and investors. But also to skills in the field of personnel and production knowledge that they would otherwise need years to build up internally. ChipNL is also part of a European network of 27 knowledge centers to strategically strengthen this crucial technology.
Brainport Development, ChipTech Twente, High Tech NL, imec Netherlands, Oost NL, TNO and Eindhoven University of Technology are involved in the ChipNL consortium.
Minister Beljaarts (Economic Affairs): “With innovative companies and suppliers, the Netherlands is a relevant global player in research, development and production of semiconductors. European cooperation including public financing is necessary to keep this sector globally competitive and to ensure the maintenance of our prosperity and security. These knowledge centers can ensure that expertise is available to a larger number of smaller companies. It is important that the sector not only grows, but this value chain also becomes more diverse and broader.”
European cooperation in the Chips Joint Undertaking
The Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU) is the European public-private partnership that supports research, development and innovation in the field of semiconductor technologies and applications. It consists of companies, knowledge institutions and governments from various countries (EU and non-EU) and the European Commission. The Chips JU finances projects such as the Chips Competence Centers that contribute to strengthening the European competitive position. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) made the national nomination for this EU collaboration.