The tech department has announced £35m in funding for the semiconductor industry as the UK joins an EU scheme providing grant funding for startups.
By joining the Chips Joint Undertaking – an EU scheme to advance the European semiconductor ecosystem – UK chip firms will have enhanced access to a €1.3bn funding pot for collaborative research set aside by Horizon Europe.
As a member nation, tens of thousands of the UK’s semiconductor firms are eligible for grants worth an average of £450,000.
Alongside joining the initiative, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has approved £5m to fund semiconductor research, with a further £30m due to support research between 2025 and 2027.
“Our membership of the Chips Joint Undertaking will boost Britain’s strengths in semiconductor science and research to secure our position in the global chip supply chain,” said Saqib Bhatti, the tech minister.
“This underscores our unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of technology and cements our important role in shaping the future of semiconductor technologies around the world.”
The UK re-joined Horizon Europe – an EU funding programme for scientific research – in September following a three-year absence as a result of Brexit.
Semiconductors have been highlighted by the UK government as a critical technology for achieving the science and tech superpower ambition of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Used in countless electronics, the importance of semiconductors has been underscored by recent advancements in AI, which rely on chips – typically GPUs – to function.
“We are very happy to welcome the UK to the Chips Joint Undertaking as a participating state,” said Jari Kinaret, Chips Joint Undertaking executive director.
“We are looking forward to working with the UK partners to develop the European industrial ecosystem in microelectronics and its applications, contributing to the continent’s scientific excellence and innovation leadership in semiconductor technologies and related fields.”
The deadline for startups to apply to phase one of the funding is 14 May.
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