Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ICOS (International Cooperation 0n Semiconductors)
Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-06-30
Semiconductors and Semiconductor-based photonics are pivotal technologies for almost all existing industrial sectors, as demonstrated by the recent chips shortages. International cooperation is key for speeding up technological innovation (e.g. the ITRS/IRDS and IPSR-I International Roadmaps), reducing cost by avoiding duplicated research, the resilience of the semiconductor value and supply chains, and is encouraged by the new strategies of leading semiconductor countries. The main objective of ICOS is to support the Commission in its effort to re-establish the global position of Europe in the semiconductor value chain, as advocated by the European Chips Act, by identifying European and International strengths and gaps, strategic dependencies, market opportunities, and topics on which cooperation with leading semiconductor countries could be beneficial to the growth of the European industry. ICOS will build balanced semiconductor partnerships with like-minded countries, set out cooperative framework on initiatives of mutual interest, and identify and support the establishment of the most promising scientific international collaborations. In particular, ICOS provides advices to the European Commission on joint research initiatives on specific topics with selected leading countries, and offers support in their implementation, based on well documented analysis of value chains and the mutual advantages of potential collaboration. The project also contributes to other strategic European initiatives in this sector, like the Digital Agenda which includes the semiconductor area, and the Green Deal for sustainable electronics. Partners include representatives of the major European Universities and RTOs, which are actively involved in international cooperation, the major European semiconductor industries and Technology Platforms supporting the Chips Joint Undertaking, which is leading to an overall strategy for international cooperation and allow to maximise the impact of ICOS. The project will allow reinforcing the sovereignty in future emerging enabling technologies by strengthening European capacities in key parts of digital and future supply and value chains, allowing agile responses to urgent needs, and by investing in early discovery and industrial uptake of new technologies.
WP1 achieved an effective coordination of the project partners and activities, a monitoring of all aspects of the project flow, including contractual obligations, and an oversight of the strategy to achieve the expected objectives and impacts. The work package also ensured the smooth execution of several meetings and workshops, both online and in-person.
WP2 has carried out an economic analysis of the semiconductor ecosystem in the EU27 and a selected number of leading semiconductor countries (Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, China, the USA, Singapore and India, following the request of the EC). It allowed us to identify the EU’s economic and industrial strengths and weaknesses, strategic dependencies, market opportunities and opportunities for cooperation, by considering the entire semiconductor value chain, from raw materials to equipment and manufacturing, across the family of semiconductor products, from advanced processors to innovative functionalities, and across the main end-user segments.
The existing cooperation related to semiconductors between the EU and these countries have also been identified. The market opportunities have also been identified for the EU by 2030, especially considering the EU green and digital transitions.
In WP3, the objective of the activities has been to consider a comprehensive list of current EU, non-EU and international (e.g. IEEE IRDS, IPSR-I) roadmaps in Advanced Computation and Functionalities, in order to draft an initial catalogue of the most promising emerging technologies in these areas.
Inputs were also gathered from ICOS and other European key events, and desk research.
The technology inventory follows the segmentation across indicators in line with the other work packages.
Then, a preliminary quantitative assessment of European and non-European strengths and weaknesses for the next generation and emerging technologies has been performed.
Supported by inputs from WP2 and WP3, WP4 aimed to identify generic needs and challenges in the semiconductor field for which international cooperation, driven by public authorities, is critically important, and to develop a prioritized list of such needs. 15 challenges have been taken into account. Options for finding solutions to these challenges, with their different dimensions (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, Legal) and cooperation need options were identified.
A White Paper on “Generic Challenges and International Cooperation in the Semiconductor Field” was published as a part of the work executed in WP4. This white paper includes a detailed list of identified challenges and aims to outline the generic challenges in the semiconductor field, along with associated strategies to mitigate these challenges through international cooperation.
In WP5, the activities were focused on gathering first inputs from the work package participants and on defining the format of the future results.
This WP started in September 2023 and was oriented towards gathering the necessary information to support international engagement of the European Commission with governments and funding bodies. Based on the first results from the preceding workpackages, a framework was set up, which will be the basis for obtaining further priorisation.
Other activities were oriented towards establishing an understanding of opportunities for international cooperation supported by an informational matrix for cooperation schemes based on levels of cooperation as well as country specific information on institutional, research and industry levels. A continuous dialog with the commission has been established to best address the current issues in international cooperation in semiconductor and to grasp and adapt to the rapid evolution at global level.
All 8 deliverables planned during the first year of ICOS were delivered on time and all 5 milestones were achieved on schedule.
WP2 has carried out an economic analysis of the semiconductor ecosystem in the EU27 and a selected number of leading semiconductor countries (Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, China, the USA, Singapore and India, following the request of the EC). It allowed us to identify the EU’s economic and industrial strengths and weaknesses, strategic dependencies, market opportunities and opportunities for cooperation, by considering the entire semiconductor value chain, from raw materials to equipment and manufacturing, across the family of semiconductor products, from advanced processors to innovative functionalities, and across the main end-user segments.
The existing cooperation related to semiconductors between the EU and these countries have also been identified. The market opportunities have also been identified for the EU by 2030, especially considering the EU green and digital transitions.
In WP3, the objective of the activities has been to consider a comprehensive list of current EU, non-EU and international (e.g. IEEE IRDS, IPSR-I) roadmaps in Advanced Computation and Functionalities, in order to draft an initial catalogue of the most promising emerging technologies in these areas.
Inputs were also gathered from ICOS and other European key events, and desk research.
The technology inventory follows the segmentation across indicators in line with the other work packages.
Then, a preliminary quantitative assessment of European and non-European strengths and weaknesses for the next generation and emerging technologies has been performed.
Supported by inputs from WP2 and WP3, WP4 aimed to identify generic needs and challenges in the semiconductor field for which international cooperation, driven by public authorities, is critically important, and to develop a prioritized list of such needs. 15 challenges have been taken into account. Options for finding solutions to these challenges, with their different dimensions (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, Legal) and cooperation need options were identified.
A White Paper on “Generic Challenges and International Cooperation in the Semiconductor Field” was published as a part of the work executed in WP4. This white paper includes a detailed list of identified challenges and aims to outline the generic challenges in the semiconductor field, along with associated strategies to mitigate these challenges through international cooperation.
In WP5, the activities were focused on gathering first inputs from the work package participants and on defining the format of the future results.
This WP started in September 2023 and was oriented towards gathering the necessary information to support international engagement of the European Commission with governments and funding bodies. Based on the first results from the preceding workpackages, a framework was set up, which will be the basis for obtaining further priorisation.
Other activities were oriented towards establishing an understanding of opportunities for international cooperation supported by an informational matrix for cooperation schemes based on levels of cooperation as well as country specific information on institutional, research and industry levels. A continuous dialog with the commission has been established to best address the current issues in international cooperation in semiconductor and to grasp and adapt to the rapid evolution at global level.
All 8 deliverables planned during the first year of ICOS were delivered on time and all 5 milestones were achieved on schedule.
ICOS is a CSA and this section does not apply.