International cooperation in semiconductors (CSA)

Expected Outcome

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.

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[1], 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.

The Commission will actively engage with Member States via the European Semiconductor Board ensuring that their interests and views are taken into account.

Projects are expected to ensure complementarities with projects funded under the following topics:

• HORIZON-CL4-2022-DIGITAL-EMERGING-01-38: International cooperation in semiconductors (CSA)
• Chips Diplomacy Support Initiative - EU action grant in the field of pilot projects and preparatory actions[2]
• Chips Joint Undertaking’s HORIZON-Chips-2024-3-RIA: Joint call with Korea on Heterogeneous integration and neuromorphic computing technologies for future semiconductor components and systems

And to develop synergies with projects funded under the Digital Europe Programme (DEP).

[1] Mainstream chips denote semiconductor devices manufactured at node sizes equal or greater than 28 nm.

[2] See Chips Diplomacy Support Initiative | Shaping Europe’s digital future (europa.eu)