Hellenic Chips Competence Centre (HCCC) to Boost Semiconductor Skills and Expertise in Greece and Europe
In a significant step toward strengthening Greece’s position in the European semiconductor innovation ecosystem, the Hellenic Emerging Technologies Industry Association (HETiA) is proud to announce its initiative within the European Chips Competence Centres framework.
The European Commission has announced the creation of 27 Chips Competence Centres across 24 EU countries and Norway. These centres are designed to strengthen skills and expertise in the semiconductor industry.
The first group of these centres will receive over €170 million in funding, coming from both the EU and national budgets. A second phase of the program will open in 2025, allowing all EU countries, plus Iceland and Norway, to participate.
Each of the selected proposals is now to move forward to finalize individual contracts.
What Is the EU Chips Act?
The EU Chips Act is a major initiative to boost Europe’s role in the global semiconductor industry. Its goal is to double Europe’s share of chip production—from 10% today to 20% in the future.
The plan focuses on:
- Helping large semiconductor companies grow.
- Supporting small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) by lowering the high costs of entering the chip market.
- Encouraging the building of new semiconductor plants across Europe by offering financial incentives.
How Chips Competence Centres Will Help
The Chips Competence Centres will play a key role in in strengthening Europe’s semiconductor innovation ecosystem. They will:
- Help businesses, especially SMEs and start-ups, access the resources and training they need to create innovative semiconductor solutions.
- Provide access to major facilities, like the European design platform and pilot production lines, which have been created under the EU Chips Act.
- Offer specialized expertise in specific areas, like advanced sensors, energy-efficient chips, or photonic technologies, based on the strengths of each region.
Building a Network Across Europe
The Competence Centres will also form a network across Europe, making it easier for regions to share expertise and resources. This will help address the specific needs of local industries while supporting Europe’s overall semiconductor growth.
By 2025, new centres will be added to this network, covering all EU countries, along with Iceland and Norway.
HETiA’s Proposal: The Hellenic Chips Competence Centre (HCCC)
As part of this initiative, the Hellenic Emerging Technologies Industry Association (HETiA) has taken the lead, in collaboration with leading Greek research institutions, universities, and non-profits, to form and submit the Hellenic Chips Competence Centre (HCCC) proposal. Coordinated by the Hellenic Emerging Technologies Industry Association (HETiA), the research partners are the National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos” (NCSRD), Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), and Centre for Research and Technology – Hellas (CERTH), and includes as Academic partners the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), University of West Attica (UWA), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), University of Ioannina (UOI), Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), University of Thessaly (UTH), University of Peloponnese (UOP), University of Patras (UPAT), Technical University of Crete (TUC), the Hellenic Open University (HOU) and the Scientific Society Micro&Nano (MICRONANO).
Moreover, it is supported by 40+ key stakeholders like technology associations and industry players, aligning with the European Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU) objectives to promote innovation, training, and technology transfer, strengthening Greece’s semiconductor capabilities and contributing to Europe’s competitiveness.
HCCC is designed to support businesses, including SMEs, start-ups, and professionals, by providing advanced services and access to cutting-edge technologies. Key areas of focus include:
- Advanced Expertise: Support in analog, mixed-signal and RF components, photonic IC technologies, advanced sensors, embedded AI circuits, and low-power microprocessors for IoT applications.
- Skills Development: Training programs to upskill and reskill at 500+ professionals in the semiconductor field, addressing critical skills shortages.
- Technology Support: Assistance in developing semiconductor solutions, including technology transfer and access to European pilot lines and design platforms.
- Collaboration and Networking: Acting as a bridge between academia, industry, and government to promote innovation and strengthen connections across Europe.
- Financial Guidance: Support in accessing the Chips Fund and venture capital for new projects and businesses.
Once up and running a user-friendly “one-stop-shop” platform will be making these services easily accessible. The platform will provide information on service availability and fees and ensure fair and efficient resource allocation, addressing each user’s needs with tailored support.
By fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and government, the HCCC will strengthen Greece’s position in the semiconductor sector while contributing to Europe’s objectives in this critical field.
For more information about the HCCC and its services, please contact the coordinating committee at .
For additional context, further details on the Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU) and the Chips for Europe Initiative under the Chips Act are available.
