EU will Invest 8.1 Billion Euros in Telecommunications and Chips

The European Commission has approved public funding of 8.1 billion euros (8.73 billion US dollars) to support research, innovation, and initial industrial deployment of microelectronics and communication technologies. This funds will be allocated to 56 companies – including small and medium-sized companies, as well as companies such as Nokia and Ericsson – to carry out 68 projects, focusing on 5G and 6G, autonomous mobility, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing. The plan will continue until 2032, with the first batch of products expected to be launched in 2025.
This project called “IPCEI ME/CT” was jointly developed and notified by fourteen member states, including Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain.

Member states will provide up to 8.1 billion euros in public funding and are expected to release an additional 13.7 billion euros in private investment. As part of IPCEI, 56 companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises and startups, will undertake 68 projects.
IPCEI ME/CT focuses on research and development projects covering microelectronics and communication technologies throughout the entire value chain, from materials and tools to chip design and manufacturing processes.
These projects aim to promote digital and environmental transformation by creating innovative microelectronics and communication solutions, as well as developing energy efficient and resource saving electronic systems and manufacturing methods. They will contribute to technological advancements in many fields such as communication (5G and 6G), autonomous driving, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing. They will also support companies that actively participate in energy production, distribution, and use in the green transformation.
The first batch of new products will be launched to the market as early as 2025, and the entire project is planned to be completed by 2032. The timeline varies depending on the project’s functionality and the companies involved. It is expected to create approximately 8700 direct employment opportunities and more indirect employment opportunities.
IPCEI ME/CT follows and supplements the first IPCEI approved by the committee in December 2018 to support research and innovation in the field of microelectronics.