European Commission Approves Public-Private Project for Microelectronics and Communication Applications

The European Commission (EC) has approved an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) ME/CT project, a public-private collaboration for the development of microelectronics and communication applications. The project is part of the European Chips Act and involves 14 European member states, including the Netherlands.

Project Overview

The project focuses on developing microelectronics and communication solutions from start to finish, from the raw materials and tooling to be used to the chip designs and manufacturing processes. The solutions should lead to technological progress in various sectors, such as the telecom sector for 5G and 6G, autonomous vehicles, AI, and quantum computing. The solutions must also help generate energy and make the distribution sectors greener.

Investment and Job Creation

The public-private IPCEI ME/CT collaboration involves 56 companies from the participating Member States in 68 joint projects. The EC is financing 8.1 billion euros, with the condition that the business community puts an extra 13.7 billion euros on the table in investments. The project should create 8,700 jobs and many more indirect jobs. The 68 projects are also part of a wider IPCEI ME/CT ecosystem with EEA member Norway.
The first developed solutions should be on the market in 2025, and the entire project will run until 2032.