European Commission hosts a Ceremonial Event for the launch of Chips JU Pilot Lines


 

The European Commission hosted a signature ceremony for the Chips JU pilot lines, marking the formalisation of the groundbreaking €3.7 billion investment from the European Union and Participating States to strengthen capacity building and innovation in Europe. 

The ceremony counted with the presence of the Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, and representatives of the five Chips JU pilot lines:  

  • FAMES (FD-SOI pilot line for Applications with non-volatile embedded Memories, RF & 3D integration for European Sovereignty​) 

  • APECS (Advanced Packaging for Electronic Components and Systems and Heterogeneous) 

  • NanoIC (European pilot line for beyond 2nm leading edge system-on-chip leadership) 

  • WBG (Wide Band Gap materials pilot line) 

  • PIXEurope (Advanced Photonic Integrated Circuits Pilot Line for Europe)  

Participants engaged in a roundtable discussion, expressing their commitment and mutual support for this initiative. Henna Virkkunen emphasised the importance of chip production to guarantee the EU’s economic security and competitiveness, and the necessity to encourage investment in the sector.  

As a key action of the Chips for Europe Initiative, the pilot lines will accelerate the development, testing, and scaling of semiconductor innovations, and ultimately bridge the gap between research and mass production. Their implementation will strengthen Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem while reinforcing the EU’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and economic growth. The ceremony concluded with a group photo, capturing this historical moment in the semiconductor field. 

Jari Kinaret, Executive Director of the Chips JU, expressed great gratitude and immense pride in leading a Joint Undertaking distinguished by its unwavering cohesion and the steadfast commitment of all stakeholders, underscoring the collective dedication that drives its success and impact.