The European Commission has given the green light to an ambitious project of common interest to boost the development of microelectronics and communication technologies in Spain and thirteen other European Union countries. This project, known as an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI), will have state funding of up to 8.1 billion euros to support research, innovation and early industrial deployment across the value chain of these key technologies.

In addition to Spain, other countries participating in this IPCEI project are Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. Overall, this initiative is expected to mobilize up to an additional 13.7 billion euros in private investment, highlighting its relevance and potential to boost the sector.

This significant injection of public funds will enable the implementation of various projects related to microelectronics and communication technologies along the entire value chain. It is expected that the first innovative products derived from these projects can be introduced to the market as early as 2025, while the full completion of the project is scheduled for 2032, with timelines that will vary depending on the projects and the companies involved.

This IPCEI project is estimated to generate around 8,700 direct jobs, as well as an even larger number of indirect jobs, providing a significant boost to the labor market and the economy in general.

In total, 56 companies will participate in this project, which will carry out 68 research and development projects. These initiatives will cover different aspects of microelectronics and communication technologies, from the development of new materials and tools to chip designs and manufacturing processes.

Projects eligible for funding must contribute to the creation of innovative microelectronics and communication solutions, as well as the development of energy-efficient and resource-saving electronic systems and manufacturing methods. In addition to the directly participating companies, 30 associated participants, such as universities, research organizations and companies, will also collaborate, and it is estimated that there will be around 600 indirect partners involved in the project.

Among the direct Spanish participants in this project are companies such as Innova IRV Microelectronics, KDPOF, Openchip and Semidynamics Technology Services. On the other hand, the group of associated participants includes companies such as DAS Photonics, Derivados del Flúor, iPronics, VLC-Photonics, Vodafone and Wooptics.

This IPCEI project represents a great opportunity to boost research and innovation in the field of microelectronics and communication technologies in Europe. It will also foster collaboration between companies, institutions and countries, thus promoting European competitiveness and leadership in this strategic field. Undoubtedly, this is an important milestone to strengthen the industry and the digital economy of the European Union as a whole.