The Government approved in Thursday's meeting a memorandum that will allow Romania to participate in Important Projects of Common European Interest in advanced semiconductor technologies (IPCEI-AST), thus providing the country with a strategic position in a technological area that is critical for economic competitiveness and national security.
According to a press release sent to AGERPRES, the Government adopted the memorandum mandating the Ministry of Economy, Digitalisation, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (MEDAT), as the national public authority responsible for industrial policy, to carry out all the technical steps necessary for participation in cross-border and multinational projects concerning advanced semiconductor technologies (AST) (IPCEI-AST).
"The adoption of this memorandum by the Government will allow Romania to participate in Important Projects of Common European Interest in the field of advanced semiconductor technologies (IPCEI-AST), which provides a strategic positioning in a technological area that is critical for economic competitiveness and national security. For Romania, involvement in such a project means access to substantial financing, advanced technological cooperation and the strengthening of the national innovation ecosystem. The strategic objective of IPCEI-AST is the creation of a new-generation European ecosystem capable of providing advanced semiconductor technologies. The project is aimed at seven technological areas that develop advanced technologies for industry: AI chips, photonic integrated circuits, chiplets and advanced packaging, disruptive sensors, power electronics, secure communication and generic technologies such as equipment and materials," the press release reads.
According to the same source, the project's main objectives include reducing the gap between laboratories and factories, stimulating innovation in disruptive technologies, reducing dependencies, strengthening downstream industries and addressing market failures.
"For Romania it is important to participate in the development and integration of technologies into high value-added products. At operational level, Romania, through the Ministry of Economy, Digitalisation, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, in collaboration with the Ministry of Investments and European Projects, manages the Important Project of Common European Interest in Microelectronics and Communication Technologies, a strategic investment of European interest that is vital for Romania's technological future, financed through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Semiconductors are embedded in virtually every electronic device and are essential for a wide range of applications and end markets. The importance of semiconductors is expected to grow over the next decade, driven by megatrends such as artificial intelligence, automation, security and sustainability," the Government also says.
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