IPCEI ME/CT on Microelectronics
The Important Project of Common European Interest on Microelectronics and Communication Technologies (IPCEI ME/CT), together with the European Chips Act, is paving the way towards European technological sovereignty and the Green Deal, pushing forward research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) and the first industrial deployment (FID) of Microelectronics and Communication Technologies across the entire European semiconductor value chain, from materials to design and chip manufacturing, up to integration in final systems.
This strategic initiative, which gathers ST’s R&D Labs and manufacturing locations in three European member states (Italy, France and Malta), is an important springboard between R&D&I and industrialization thanks to the FID funding. Its magnitude across Europe and the semiconductor value chain is also a strong positive for general awareness, talent attraction, and knowledge generation.
This European-scale project involves 14 European Union member states, close to 100 companies including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups, and more than 600 research and technology partners. The member states will provide up to € 8.1 billion in public funding, which is expected to unlock an additional €13.7 billion in private investments.
Following the European Commission’s approval on June 8, 2023, the project kicked off at the first General Assembly in Berlin on October 24, 2023.
The program is structured into four workstreams: SENSE (sensing), THINK (embedded processing), ACT (power electronics), and COMMUNICATE (components for communications) and will induce the deployment of 68 R&D&I and FID projects.
In Italy, IPCEI ME/CT started in early 2023 and will run until the end of 2027 supported by Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy with national financial resources and in the framework of EU Recovery and Resilience Plan – Next Generation EU, M4C2-I2.1 – Mission 4 – Education and Research, Component 2 – From Research to Business, Investimento 2.1 “Important project of common European interest” (IPCEI)”.
In Italy IPCEI ME/CT is enabling the development and industrialization of various technologies and products for everyday applications in the automotive, industrial, and telecommunications sectors such as:
- MEMS and sensors advanced technologies,
- New generation of efficient smart power and power discrete technologies to support the green transition, particularly in the automotive sector: silicon and wide bandgap (SiC and GaN)
- New generation of communication and security technologies to support 5G/6G connectivity systems.
Beyond the technological achievements, the impact of the IPCEI ME/CT will be of wider relevance to increase and enhance networking and collaborations inside the microelectronics and connectivity ecosystem, and towards scientific communities, downstream industries, and European society.