UK semiconductor sector gains access to €1.3B pot of funds from Horizon Europe

Good news for British semiconductor researchers, enterprises and startups, as the UK now has joined the EU’s ‘Chips Joint Undertaking’ This provides the UK semiconductor sector enhanced access to a €1.3 billion pot of funds set aside from Horizon Europe to support research in semiconductor technologies up to 2027.

The UK has joined the initiative as a “Participating State”, allowing the country to collaborate more closely with European partners on semiconductor innovation. As a Participating State, the UK will have a role in setting research priorities and funding decisions as the fund evolves in the years ahead.

This includes the opportunity for the UK to be a part of a new funding opportunity with the Republic of Korea to research ways to combine semiconductor chips to improve performance through advanced packaging – which the UK-Republic of Korea Semiconductor Framework, signed in November last year.

In 2024, the Chips Joint Undertaking fund’s work includes two focussed calls for funding bids on semiconductors for cars and other vehicles as well as RISC-V, an open-source architecture that aims to accelerate semiconductor innovation by lowering the cost of chip design. It also provides more open opportunities for scientists and firms to bid for research support.

Last year the UK re-joined Horizon Europe through a bespoke new agreement with the EU last year. 

Tens of thousands of UK companies are now eligible for Horizon Europe grants, which are worth £450,000 to a business on average. 

An initial £5 million this year from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and delivered by Innovate UK is available with an additional £30 million is due to support UK participation in further research between 2025 and 2027.

This follows DSIT and UK Research and Innovation investing £22 million in two Innovation and Knowledge Centres located in Southampton and Bristol, aimed at reinforcing these key areas of British research leadership. 

These centres are dedicated to advancing cutting-edge chip technologies, such as silicon photonics and compound semiconductors, toward commercialisation.

Lead image: Maxence Pira.