Belgian institution IMEC will receive a subsidy of 2.5 billion euros to develop future computer chips
Belgian semiconductor technology research and development agency IMEC has announced that under the European Chip Act, its laboratory will receive € 2.5 billion in funding to establish an experimental production line for the development and testing of future generations of advanced computer chips.
The European Union previously announced a € 43 billion European Chip Act in 2023, aimed at supporting domestic chip manufacturing businesses in Europe and responding to policies from countries and regions such as the United States and China that strongly support the semiconductor industry.
IMEC, a research institution headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, will lead the construction of a trial production line for process chips below 2nm to help European industry, academia, and startups acquire chip manufacturing technology. Without this, related companies cannot afford the high research and development costs. The industry claims that TSMC, Intel, and Samsung plan to build a 2nm chip production line with a cost of up to $20 billion.
Luc Van den Hove, CEO of IMEC, stated in a statement that "this (2.5 billion euros) funding will double our production and learning speed, accelerate innovation, strengthen the European chip ecosystem, and drive EU economic growth." It is reported that this pilot line will provide support for multiple industries in Europe, including automotive, telecommunications, and health.
IMEC stated that the Belgian government and a "chip alliance" composed of multiple institutions and projects will provide 1.4 billion euros in funding, while semiconductor manufacturers including ASML will provide 1.1 billion euros in funding. Other research laboratories participating in the program include CEA Leti in France, Fraunhofer in Germany, VTT in Finland, CSSNT in Romania, and Tyndall Institute in Ireland.
Intel and TSMC are still waiting for EU approval for billions of euros in funding from the German government to begin building chip factories in Germany this year.
IMEC, a research institution headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, will lead the construction of a trial production line for process chips below 2nm to help European industry, academia, and startups acquire chip manufacturing technology. Without this, related companies cannot afford the high research and development costs. The industry claims that TSMC, Intel, and Samsung plan to build a 2nm chip production line with a cost of up to $20 billion.
Luc Van den Hove, CEO of IMEC, stated in a statement that "this (2.5 billion euros) funding will double our production and learning speed, accelerate innovation, strengthen the European chip ecosystem, and drive EU economic growth." It is reported that this pilot line will provide support for multiple industries in Europe, including automotive, telecommunications, and health.
IMEC stated that the Belgian government and a "chip alliance" composed of multiple institutions and projects will provide 1.4 billion euros in funding, while semiconductor manufacturers including ASML will provide 1.1 billion euros in funding. Other research laboratories participating in the program include CEA Leti in France, Fraunhofer in Germany, VTT in Finland, CSSNT in Romania, and Tyndall Institute in Ireland.
Intel and TSMC are still waiting for EU approval for billions of euros in funding from the German government to begin building chip factories in Germany this year.