HGK and its Microelectronics and Semiconductors Group initiated the inclusion of Croatian companies in the European IPCE program (Important Projects of Common European Interest), which was achieved in coordination with the Permanent Representation in the EU and the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development.
According to HGK, Croatian companies are also contributing to the efforts to address the issue of chip shortages and reducing dependence on imports from Asia through the implementation of the EU Industrial Strategy.
The call for expressions of interest for microelectronics projects is open until 8 July and includes the design, development and production of processes, chips, semiconductor substrates and related technologies.
HGK recalled that it is rare today that a device does not include chips, so for example there are 50 to 150 chips in an average car, and as their production was halted with the closing down of plants due to the pandemic, a shortage in chips occurred.
At the same time, the demand for all types of electronic devices has increased worldwide, and with the reopening of plants, many industries have faced a shortage of chips.
A possible solution for this is to develop a new generation of microelectronics, but also to return and boost production in Europe, HGK said.
“An opportunity for Croatian companies exists within the IPCEI and in new types of design and the use of new types of advanced materials. These are significant tools that can help keep Europe from lagging behind Asia and the United States in this segment,” said the president of the microelectronics and semi-conductors group within HGK, Srđan Kovačević.
Kovačević of the Orqa company said that the company had recently concluded a cooperation agreement with the faculties of electrical engineering and computing in Osijek and Zagreb on the design of a specialised chip for unmanned systems.
One of the foundations to resolve problems in chip supply chains is the Chips Act, and the Croatian Chamber of Commerce is the contact point for it.
HGK added that in 2020 Croatia was among the first signatories of the declaration on processors and semiconductor technologies, which calls for investments of around €145 billion in boosting the development of the European microelectronics and semiconductor sector in the next two to three years, which is 20% of the European Recovery and Resilience Program.
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