The European Union will invest 325 million euros in the semiconductor sector of our continent, the European Commission announced on Thursday.
Today, the European Commission announced the launch of funding for projects related to research and innovation in the semiconductor sector.
Funding is to include, among other things, the development of photonic integrated circuits (PICs), which use light to process and transmit information at higher speeds using less energy. This will be especially important for the next generation of high-performance computing, as well as for high-speed communication and data centers.
EU funds will also support the creation of a network of "chip competence centers" in EU countries. Competence centers will provide access to technical knowledge and experimentation in the field of semiconductors, helping companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to develop and develop skills.
Finally, the funds will be used to develop a cloud-based online design platform that will enable users, especially universities, startups and small businesses, to build new integrated circuits and help bring their designs to market.
Chips are small devices made of semiconductors (materials that allow or block the flow of electricity) that can store large amounts of information and perform mathematical and logical operations. They are essential for a wide range of everyday products, from credit cards to cars and smartphones. With the development of artificial intelligence, 5G networks and artificial intelligence, their demand and range of applications is expected to increase significantly.
Europe is currently too dependent on foreign-made chips, which has become particularly evident during the Covid-19 crisis. It is also our continent's response to support programs for this industry in the US, Japan and China.