Page 109 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2023

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

EC Signs-Off €8.1B State Funding for R&D Push

The European Commission (EC) approved
14 countries to pump a total of €8.1 billion
into R&D covering communications and
microelectronics, with major industry
players including Ericsson, Nokia and
Orange poised to be involved in the projects.
Under the banner of Important Project of
Common European Interest
microelectronics/communication
technologies (IPCEI ME/CT), it aims to fund
projects covering every stage from research
to early industrial deployments including
chip design and manufacturing. Alongside
the €8.1 billion in public funding, an
additional €13.7 billion is expected to be
added to the pot from private sector
investments. Across the 68 R&D projects,
56 companies will directly contribute
including: Airbus, Analog Devices, ASML,
Bosch, Ericsson, Infineon, Nokia, NXP, under the IPCEI ME/CT are to develop generation and distribution sectors in green
Orange, Renault, Rohde & Schwarz and technologies that go beyond what is transitions. Results of the research “may”
STMicroelectronics. There are also a currently available in the microelectronics hit the market from 2025, it added, though
further 30 associated participants, which and communications sectors, the EC the scheme is scheduled to run until 2032.
include Vodafone Spain, and around 600 stated. These include “developing energy- Countries funding the projects include
indirect participants contributing through efficient and resource-saving electronics Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the
existing collaborations with the primary systems and manufacturing methods” and Netherlands, Poland and Spain. The
parties involved. Goals of the various technology to advance “many sectors, initiative is the sixth IPCEI approved under
projects match wider efforts in the including communications (5G and 6G), European Union rules, which set-out criteria
European Union to push digital and green autonomous driving, AI and quantum of how several member states can
transformation, alongside boosting local computing.” Other areas targeted include collaborate on funding transitional projects
chip manufacture. Specific aims of work supporting companies active in the energy in areas deemed a priority in the region.

109 MAY-JUNE 2023