News item | 08-11-2023 | 9:00 am
The government today decided to definitively allocate 230 million euros in financing to several Dutch micro- and nanoelectronics innovations. In June 2023, the European Commission already approved support (8.1 billion euros in public, 13.7 billion euros in private investments) for 68 projects in 14 EU countries, including the Netherlands. These are so-called IPCEIs, Important Project of Common European Interestwhich contribute to innovations that are not yet on the market, such as radar and 6G technology, advanced machines and test systems for the semiconductor industry.
Minister Micky Adriaansens (Economic Affairs and Climate): “The Netherlands has a good starting position in this industry. We must strengthen that. Public financing through the IPCEIs for chips is necessary because there is currently a financing shortage within these specific projects and because otherwise this development would not be properly pursued due to the high risk profile. Moreover, we also attract more private financing. Investment is essential because of the great global competition surrounding this key technology.”
Semiconductors are indispensable for the modern, digital and sustainable society that the Netherlands wants to be. There is almost no device that functions without semiconductors. For example, they are in a payment card, electric toothbrush, data centers, computers, factories, fighter jets, cars, ultrasound equipment, MRI scanners. Progress in microchips is desperately needed for new developments in sustainability, healthcare, agriculture and secure communication.
Since the end of September 2023, the EU Chips Act in operation. This stimulates the production and innovation of microchips in the European Union. This should lead to sufficient availability of microchips for European products, reliable supply, less dependence on other countries and the development of the most innovative solutions.
Dutch IPCEI semiconductor industry projects
Funding has now been allocated for four approved innovative Dutch projects, in which several companies and knowledge institutions are participating. This concerns radar and 6G technology (both led by NXP), the realization of the latest machines for advanced semiconductor production (project led by ASML) and fully automated test systems (led by Nearfield Instruments). The fifth Dutch project approved by the EU investigates alternative financing, because the Dutch IPCEI subsidy is insufficient for this.
6G technology
This concerns the development of the next generation of microchips (semiconductors) by NXP. These are chips that are able to continuously communicate between an object and its environment via 6G technology. Important for, for example, the development of self-driving cars and the energy transition.
Radar technology
This project revolves around digital radar technology in microchips at higher frequencies by NXP. The goal is the development of a new type of chip that functions as a transmitter, processor and receiver (transceiver and Processor) of information combines. Such a design offers new possibilities for, for example, industry, agriculture and healthcare.
Next generation chip production machines
Better machines are needed to produce the smallest chips with more functions and less material and energy consumption. ASML is developing the next generation of chip production machines required for this. Through this project, a machine is made available to European (knowledge) partners. They can thus build up knowledge to develop the next generations of chips.
Fully automated microchip testing system
Nearfield Instruments is working on a fully automated testing system. With the possibility of making increasingly smaller chips, inspection and testing must also follow this development to guarantee the quality of the microchips. The SME is working on a fully automated testing process with the greatest precision on these small structures. This saves a lot of time in the production of reliable microchips.
IPCEIs
ICPEI’ are large-scale European collaborations of companies and knowledge institutions around an innovative technology, a production chain or infrastructure that is seen as strategically important for the EU. In addition to semiconductors, this includes hydrogen and cloud infrastructure. These projects are starting now and are of great importance for the jobs and income of (the day after) tomorrow. This state support to individual companies is limited to only necessary and proportionate support, without disrupting healthy (market) competition.