📋 Tender Overview
At today's meeting, the government learned about the progress of Slovenia's cooperation with the Joint European Company for Chips JU, which foresees, among other things, the establishment of a national competence center for chips and semiconductor technologies and the co-financing of research and innovation.
It is a continuation of the implementation of the European Regulation on the establishment of a framework of measures to strengthen the European semiconductor ecosystem (the Act on Chips), which has been in force since September last year. With its help, the EU wants to ensure the development of the semiconductor system and a flexible supply chain, joint action in the member states and technological sovereignty of the EU, as well as an increase in its share of the semiconductor market (from the current ten to 20 percent). Within the framework of the Act on Chips, the European Committee for Semiconductors already operates, where Slovenia has two representatives (delegates).
Competence centers will be the first entry point for users and will be connected to a network of competence centers across Europe. The centers will provide access to technical know-how and experience in the field of semiconductors, and will help companies to approach and improve design capabilities and develop skills. Competence centers will also guide users in accessing other infrastructures, especially the chip design platform (software licenses, intellectual property) and pilot production lines.
Each participating country can have one or more competence centers. One competence center in each participating country will be co-financed.
The Government also became aware of the intended signing of the Administrative Agreement with the Joint European Company for Chips JU. The signatory will be the Ministry of Digital Transformation, and with the agreement, Slovenia will offer the possibility of co-financing projects in the field of chips and semiconductor technologies.
The Ministry of Digital Transformation is designated as the national authority in charge of implementing the European Chip Act. In accordance with the National Strategic Plan for the Digital Decade, the program of the Joint Company for Chips and the Chip Initiative, we will support the establishment of a Competence Center for Chips and Semiconductor Technologies in Slovenia, which will contribute to strengthening the European ecosystem in the field of semiconductor technologies and chips.
In addition to the Chip Initiative, we will support successful applicants in the tenders of the Joint European Undertaking Chips JU, which the company will call for research and innovation activities in the field of chips and semiconductor technologies.
The administrative agreement has no direct financial consequences for the state budget, as it does not foresee that Slovenia should pay a share of funds into the Chips JU joint venture. It enables the state to co-finance projects of Slovenian applicants, which are tendered by Chips JU and are successful in the selection process. Among them will be the project of establishing a Competence Center for Chips and Semiconductor Technologies. Competence centers are co-financed in the amount of 50 percent by Chips JU (EU programs) and 50 percent by the Republic of Slovenia.
The company Chips JU also calls for research and innovation projects in the field of chips and semiconductor technologies, which will be co-financed as part of incentives for small and medium-sized companies in the form of providing a supportive environment in the field of chips and semiconductor technologies. Research and innovation projects are co-financed up to 35 percent by Chips JU (EU programs). The share depends on the form and size of the company. The Republic of Slovenia foresees co-financing in the same proportion as Chips JU. Companies, faculties and institutes must apply directly to the tender and have their own share guaranteed.
The Ministry of Digital Transformation has secured funds for this purpose in its budget, namely 700,000 euros for research and innovation projects this year and 1,200,000 euros next year (500,000 euros for the competence center and 700,000 euros for research and innovation projects). With the planned funds, the Ministry will encourage successful applications by Slovenian applicants in the tenders of the Joint European Company for Chips JU.
The possibility of co-financing projects on the basis of the Administrative Agreement and thus the establishment of a Competence Center and the promotion of research and innovation brings researchers, academia and the economy, especially small and medium-sized companies, easier access and operation in the European semiconductor ecosystem and, as a result, an increase in the competitiveness of companies in the field of chips and semiconductor technologies.
