BMWE: IPCEI Semiconductor: 38 German projects selected for key European program

 The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) has selected 38 projects from 12 federal states in the expression of interest procedure for the planned “Important Project of Common European Interest on Advanced Semiconductor Technologies” (IPCEI AST). As coordinator of the European integrated project, Germany will start the EU-wide matchmaking process in March 2026.

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche: “The current geopolitical tensions make it clear: those who are dependent on semiconductors are vulnerable. Europe must become technologically faster, bolder and more independent. With the IPCEI AST, this is exactly where we come in. The 38 selected German projects range from AI chips to state-of-the-art production facilities and strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty. Innovative German SMEs are also strongly represented – around a third of the selected companies are start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises.”

After the announcement in the Federal Gazette on November 19, 2025, interested companies submitted a total of 54 project outlines by the deadline of January 15, 2026. 38 projects were successful in the competition and were able to demonstrate the required high degree of innovation.

The selected projects cover all seven technology areas of the IPCEI AST. These include photonic integrated circuits, AI chips and chiplets, modern production systems and new sensor and power electronics technologies. They close key technological gaps in Germany and Europe and strengthen existing industrial strengths.

The BMWE is providing over 3 billion euros from the Special Fund for Infrastructure and Climate Protection to finance the German contribution to the IPCEI. The BMWE is in close contact with the federal states concerned regarding the planned co-financing of the federal states.

The selected projects are now entering the next phase. In so-called matchmaking, the companies network with partners from other EU member states participating in the IPCEI in order to establish joint European value chains. Germany is coordinating the IPCEI together with the Netherlands and France.

The online matchmaking will start on March 25 and 26, 2026 with a kick-off event. The companies will then work on the further development of the joint work program. The European Commission’s state aid assessment process for all direct partners of the IPCEI is scheduled to begin in the summer and be completed by the end of the year.

Further information will be published shortly on a central European website on the IPCEI AST.

This translation was generated automatically. 

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Further links

👉 To the original announcement (German)

👉 Strengthening microelectronics as a key technology in Europe (German)