Berlin Secures €150M Boost for Chip Research
German capital becomes key hub for advanced semiconductor research with substantial funding from EU Chips Act initiative. - © Research Fab Microelectronics
Berlin's microelectronics sector is set to receive a significant boost with €150 million in funding from the federal government and the European Union over the next four years. The investment is part of the broader APECS (Advanced Packaging and Heterogeneous Integration for Electronic Components and Systems) project under the EU Chips Act initiative.
According to Der Tagesspiegel and a press release from Research Fab Microelectronics Germany, Berlin has secured the second-largest funding allocation after Saxony. The local government will contribute approximately €17 million through 2029 to support this initiative.
Three prestigious research institutions will manage the funding: the Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration (IZM), and the Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz-Institut. These organizations will play a crucial role in advancing semiconductor technology development in the capital region.
The investment is part of a larger €730 million nationwide funding package aimed at strengthening Europe's position in the global semiconductor industry, particularly in relation to leading manufacturers in Asia and the United States. Berlin Science Senator Ina Czyborra (SPD) expressed enthusiasm about securing this prestigious project.
The city's microelectronics landscape includes numerous small firms and notable players such as Dutch company ASML, which maintains significant manufacturing and research operations in Berlin. This new funding is expected to enhance Berlin's capability to develop competitive semiconductor products, even in smaller quantities, while strengthening Europe's technological sovereignty.
