Call for Proposals: International Cooperation in Semiconductors

Scope

• Within the context of semiconductor and semiconductor-based photonics (e.g. silicon photonics), the CSA will support the Commission and the Member States in the following activities:
  • Preparation of a regional mapping of leading semiconductor countries outside of the EU regarding supply chains, industrial strengths, gaps and their expected evolution;
  • Identification of emerging opportunities (e.g. technologies, approaches) for cooperation with other regions;
  • Definition of research areas in which international cooperation would result in tangible benefits for Europe;
  • Analysis of risks to the EU’s technological advancements, technological competitiveness, and access to leading-edge technology vis-à-vis international cooperation countries;
  • Analysis of risks related to EU economic security in the semiconductor area including due to potential over-capacities for production of mainstream chips, export controls and non-market policies and practices.
  • Promotion and contribution to standardisation activities;
  • Organisation of joint events contributing to the above outcomes;
  • Promotion of mobility of researchers in specific topics (in cooperation with other support schemes);
  • Preparation of a comparative analysis of modalities for cooperation and their applicability.

Funding Information

• Budget (EUR) – Year 2025: 3 000 000
• Contributions: around 3000000

Expected Outcomes

• Project results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:
  • Evidence-based advice to the Commission and the Member States on joint actions with leading semiconductor countries (including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, USA, Canada, and India) in support of EU policies.
  • Support to the Commission to define and implement measures aiming at strengthening the position of Europe’s industry in the global semiconductor value chain.
  • Support to the Commission in implementing actions related to research cooperation, e.g. within the Digital Partnerships.
  • Factual elements (e.g. mapping supply chains in leading countries, analyses of state-of-the-art, emerging technologies…) that help the Commission in assessing potential areas of cooperation.

Eligibility Criteria

• Entities eligible to participate:
  • Any legal entity, regardless of its place of establishment, including legal entities from nonassociated third countries or international organisations (including international European research organisations) is eligible to participate (whether it is eligible for funding or not), provided that the conditions laid down in the Horizon Europe Regulation have been met, along with any other conditions laid down in the specific call/topic.
  • A ‘legal entity’ means any natural or legal person created and recognised as such under national law, EU law or international law, which has legal personality and which may, acting in its own name, exercise rights and be subject to obligations, or an entity without legal personality.
• To become a beneficiary, legal entities must be eligible for funding.
• To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the following countries:
  • the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions:
    • Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
  • the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States:
    • Aruba (NL), Bonaire (NL), Curação (NL), French Polynesia (FR), French Southern and Antarctic Territories (FR), Greenland (DK), New Caledonia (FR), Saba (NL), Saint Barthélemy (FR), Sint Eustatius (NL), Sint Maarten (NL), St. Pierre and Miquelon (FR), Wallis and Futuna Islands (FR).
  • countries associated to Horizon Europe;
    • Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

For more information, visit EC.