EC Approves €8.1 Billion for Microelectronics and Communication Tech

The European Commission has approved an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) to support research, innovation, and the first industrial deployment of microelectronics and communication technologies across the value chain. The project, called “IPCEI ME/CT“, was jointly prepared and notified by fourteen Member States: Austria, Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain.

The member states will provide up to €8.1 billion in public funding, which should unlock an additional €13.7 billion in private investments. As part of this IPCEI, 56 companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises (‘SMEs') and start-ups, will undertake 68 projects. The IPCEI ME/CT concerns research and development projects covering microelectronics and communication technologies across the whole value chain from materials and tools to the chip designs and manufacturing processes.

These projects aim at enabling digital and green transformation by creating innovative microelectronics and communication solutions and developing energy-efficient and resource-saving electronics systems and manufacturing methods. They will contribute to the technological advancement of many sectors, including communications (5G and 6G), autonomous driving, AI, and quantum computing. They will also support companies active in energy generation, distribution, and use in their green transition.

First novel products could hit the market as early as 2025 and the completion of the overall project is planned for 2032, with timelines varying in function of the project and the companies involved. Around 8.700 direct jobs are expected to be created, and many more indirect ones. The IPCEI involves 68 projects from 56 companies. These direct participants will closely cooperate through more than 180 envisaged cross-border collaborations.

In addition, there are around 600 indirect partners which are companies or organizations that hold collaboration agreements with one or more direct participants of IPCEI ME/CT and that can therefore benefit from the various dissemination activities. Several Member States (Austria, Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain) included their participation in the IPCEI ME/CT in their Recovery and Resilience Plans. These Member States can partially fund their projects through the Recovery and Resilience Facility.