The European Union has launched its largest Chips Act pilot line, NanoIC, at IMEC Leuven, a major milestone for European semiconductor development and manufacturing. With a total investment of €2.5 billion, the facility has received €700 million in EU funding, €700 million from national and regional governments, and the remainder from ASML and other industry partners. NanoIC will accelerate the development of next-generation semiconductor technology, essential for the development of AI, autonomous vehicles, healthcare and 6G mobile technology.
NanoIC is the first European facility to deploy the most advanced Extreme Ultraviolet lithography machine, focusing on designing and manufacturing chips using technology beyond two nanometres. This marks a significant advancement in European semiconductor manufacturing technology.
Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Flanders Minister-President Matthias Diependaele opened the facility, which will allow researchers and companies to test new chip designs, equipment, and processes at a near-industrial scale before mass production.
It is built on the principle of open access, with start-ups, researchers, SMEs and large organisations able to use the facilities at NanoIC. Hosted by IMEC (Belgium), its partners include CEA-Leti (France), Fraunhofer (Germany), VTT (Finland), CSSNT (Romania) and Tyndall National Institute (Ireland).
Designed to bring chip technologies from the ‘lab to the fab, the pilot lines are a key pillar of the Chips for Europe initiative under the Chips Act. They will strengthen the position of European players in the global semiconductor supply chain and be open to trusted partners, supporting Europes industrial base and competitiveness while helping retain and attract talent.
Background
The five pilot lines (NanoIC, FAMES, APECS, WBG and PIXEurope) under the Chips Act together represent a combined EU and national investment of €3.7 billion, bridging Europes research excellence with industrial application. The opening of the NanoIC pilot line follows the inauguration of FAMES on 30 January. The beginning of operational activity of these infrastructures is a key milestone in strengthening Europes semiconductor sovereignty and industrial base. Coming almost exactly four years to the day that President Ursula von der Leyen announced the European Chips Act, the opening of NanoIC coincides with the Commissions engagement with industry and stakeholders on the CHIPS Act 2.0 revision.