Microchips, the 'brain' behind nearly all modern technology, are everywhere in our daily life. They play a critical role in our technological development and are strategically important in almost all industries, from health to energy, industry, aquaculture, transport, and defence.
The EU is now making a major investment in microchips through funding and facilitating pilot production and design: By 2025, 27 European competence centres for microchip technology will be established. These competence centres will serve as a link for companies seeking access to the most advanced facilities for technological development related to microchips and sensors.
January 2025 marks the start of CC-NorChip – Chips Competence Centre (CC-NorChip).
The CC-NorChip competence centre is built on the infrastructure and expertise of USN, NTNU, UiO, and SINTEF through NorFab – The Norwegian Infrastructure for Micro- and Nanofabrication, in addition to UiT Norway's Arctic University and the independent industry and competence cluster Electronics Coast as partners.
7,7 million Euro in the pot
CC-NorChip will receive a total of 7,7 million Euro in support over four years: 3,9 million Euro from the Research Council and 3,8 million Euro from Chips JU (chips-ju.europa.eu), the innovation tool of the EU's European Chips Act (commission.europa.eu).
USN's share of the total budget is approximately 0,8 million Euro.
CC-NorChip will also work to increase the level of expertise in Norway on microfabrication and microchips, and here USN wants to play a central role with technology education in microtechnology.
Wants more to happen in Europe
"Our societies are becoming more and more dependent on high-tech microchips, and today much of the fabrication and packaging takes place in other parts of the world. The entire global political situation means that it is important that more of this happens in Europe, in order to secure both technological development and supply our high-tech societies with the microchips and technological solutions that are needed," says Associate Professor Lars-Cyril Blystad, at the Institute for Microsystems at USN.
Blystad heads USN's USN Innovation Center – microsystems, nanotechnology and electronics and has worked together with researcher Geir Bjørnsen, who has been USN's contact person and coordinator in the application process for CC-NorChip.
"We know that it is difficult for Norwegian companies to get access to the latest and most advanced production lines and design tools for microchips and sensors. Now that Europe is investing in and making available capacity for pilot production and design, CC-NorChip will serve as a link for those who need a more tailor-made offer for their businesses," says Trond Runar Hagen, Group Director at SINTEF Digital.
In the lab
USN has access to very advanced laboratories in the Research Park at the Vestfold campus, including a flexible clean room for fabrication and processing at the micro- and nanoscale and laboratories for Bio-MEMS and materials characterisation.
"CC-NorChip will give more familiarity to USN's own laboratories, something we believe will lead to more active use of these from industry and business both nationally and internationally, and also more research and development projects in the field, where USN can be involved as a research and development partner," says Marius Stian Tannum, head of the Institute for Microsystems at USN.
Read more about our laboratories: MST-Lab - University of South-Eastern Norway
USN will also have a special responsibility to disseminate information about and access to one of four high-tech pilot lines for microchips in Europe. This is within advanced packaging and heterogeneous integration, which complements the laboratory facilities at USN well.
Access to Networks
CC-NorChip is organised in different work packages, where the responsibility is distributed among the partners in the centre.
USN leads the work package 'Access to Networks', which will work to ensure that Norwegian actors receive information about and access to the other 27 Chips Competence Centres, which are located in 24 EU countries in addition to Norway.
"This is how we will work to ensure that Norwegian actors will get easier access to advanced technology development and facilities in Norway and Europe, especially within design, development and fabrication of microchips," says Blystad.
USN will also map out relevant networks within the field that exist in Norway and the EU, and disseminate information about these to Norwegian actors.
Mobilising Business
Among the partners in CC-NorChip is the technology cluster Electronic Coast (electroniccoast.no), which is located in the Research Park at USN's Vestfold campus.
Electronic Coast consists of members with solid experience and an international network in semiconductor and sensor technology. They have many years of experience in connecting technical expertise to relevant meeting places, and linking together actors in industry and academia.
"Our role in CC-NorChip includes mobilising business through our established professional groups in Packaging Technology, FOUI, Circuit Boards, Export and Sustainability, as well as arranging workshops and seminars that promote cooperation and competence development," says Linn Fagerberg, Managing Director of Electronic Coast.
In addition, Electronic Coast will support Norwegian small and medium-sized businesses by facilitating access to pilot lines for testing and development of microchip technology, as well as advising on financing and investment.
"Electronic Coast's strong connection to academic environments, especially through cooperation with USN, means that we can participate in the development of courses and educational programmes that meet the needs of the industry," says Fagerberg.