The EU center for semiconductors will boost Swedish small businesses

The investment in the competence center is part of a package within the EU's semiconductor regulation, European Chips Act. It aims to strengthen the semiconductor ecosystem in the EU, increase the resilience of supply chains and reduce external dependencies.

Half of the funding for the centers comes from the EU and the other half from the own country. From the Swedish side, Vinnova has decided to nominate the Swedish Chips Competence Center (SCCC), which is a collaboration between Lund University, Chalmers Industriteknik and KTH.

The center will have a focus on small and medium-sized companies and startup companies within deeptech that deal with research-related technology.

- It should function as a hub for imparting knowledge. To a large extent, it is about training employees in the companies, among other things in the design of circuits. The center will also help the companies gain access to the facilities that the EU invests in to try out new technology in semiconductors, so-called pilot lines, says Adela Saavedra Granholm, who leads the work with Vinnova's efforts in the semiconductor area.

The Swedish center must also cooperate with competence centers in other countries, not least within the Nordic region.

The decision was preceded by an open process, where Vinnova involved actors who want to coordinate a center. Vinnova's nomination means that the Swedish consortium can apply for funding in the upcoming EU- the call for proposals in Chips Joint Undertaking, which opens in July. If it is approved, a decision is then made about national funding.

In total, it trades around 3.5 million euros over a four-year period to the center in Sweden, corresponding to around 40 million Swedish kronor. Decisions on funding are made in November. The center is expected to be operational at the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025.