IPCEI Advanced Semiconductor Technologies (AST)

What is IPCEI AST?

The Important Project of Common European Interest on Advanced Semiconductor Technologies (IPCEI AST) is a large-scale European initiative that supports breakthrough innovation in the semiconductor sector through coordinated public support. An IPCEI enables Member States to provide state aid to ambitious, high-risk projects that deliver significant benefits beyond national borders and the addressed sector for the wider European economy.

IPCEI AST focuses on strengthening Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem across the full value chain, from research and development to first industrial deployment. As a result, it prepares mass production activities for the next generation of semiconductor technologies.

The initiative is jointly coordinated by Germany, France and the Netherlands, with participation from 14 further Member States.

Projects within IPCEI AST can cover different stages of innovation, ranging from advanced research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) to first industrial deployment (FID). 

Companies and organisations can participate in different roles, depending on their level of involvement: as direct participants, or associated or indirect partners. Through this collaborative structure, IPCEI AST brings together industry, research organisations and governments to accelerate innovation and industrial uptake.

Relevance of IPCEI AST 

IPCEI AST plays a key role in addressing Europe’s strategic challenges in the semiconductor domain. This includes: 

• supply chain dependencies; 
• global competition;
• the growing demand for advanced chips driven by digitalisation, AI and the energy transition.

By supporting cutting-edge technologies and strengthening collaboration across countries and sectors, the initiative helps position Europe as a global leader in semiconductor innovation. It builds on earlier initiatives, such as IPCEIs on Microelectronics (ME) and Microelectronics and Communication Technologies (ME/CT), while expanding into new high-tech areas that are strategically relevant for the participating Member States.

Read more about the IPCEI AST central narrative in the pdf document below:

Key technology areas

Based on consultations with Member States and industry, the IPCEI AST builds on Europe’s semiconductor strengths on 7 key technology areas:

• AI Chips and Accelerators
• Chiplets, Heterogeneous Integration, and Advanced Packaging
• Disruptive Sensors for Autonomy 
• Photonic Integrated Circuits
• Power Electronics and Disruptive Energy Saving Solutions
• Secure Communication
• Enabling Technologies

Read more about the IPCEI AST technogical fields in the pdf document below:

Workstreams

To organise a structure across the different technology fields, IPCEI AST is organised into 3 core workstreams. These workstreams bring together related activities and stakeholders around shared technological and economic challenges and objectives. They also form the backbone of the integrated project. This ensures close coordination, good governance, added value, complementarity, and spillover effects across Europe.

Each workstream addresses a specific strategic objective:

IPCEI AST process and timeline

The IPCEI AST follows a structured, multi-year funding process. It involves close coordination between Member States, industry and the European Commission. The process is organised in 4 design phases, followed by (pre-)notification and implementation.

Design Phase Stage I: 2025

Deciding on key challenges, and value chain analyses in order to define a detailed central narrative of the IPCEI AST. This process was executed with the involved Member States in close collaboration with industry. 

Design Phase Stage II: January - June 2026

Definition of Workstream structure and draft outline of the overall IPCEI framework (Chapeau document), combined with national consultations, calls for expression of interest, and matchmaking activities (April – May 2026) between stakeholders. 

Design Phase Stage III: April - December 2026

Development of the Chapeau document and preparation of the pre-notification, including project selection on national level by Member States. 

Pre-notification Phase: June - December 2026

Submission of the IPCEI and selected projects to the European Commission, including interactions with DG Competition and handling of information requests, leading up to formal notification and approval. 

Notification and implementation phase: from 2027

Approval by the European Commission and start of project execution. 

Calls for expression of interest

Between January and June 2026, the participating countries published a call for expressions of interest or a call for expression of project portfolios for the IPCEI AST. You can find more information about the individual calls via the following links:

More information

Visit the European Commission’s IPCEI website for more information about: 

• the IPCEI instrument in general; 
• the role of the European Commission in assessing and approving State aid for IPCEI projects.