The Romanian Government has approved the Memorandum by which the Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (MEDAT) is mandated to coordinate, at national level, the technical steps necessary for Romania's participation in the Important Project of European Interest in Advanced Semiconductor Technologies (IPCEI AST), including the launch of the national call for expressions of interest, the selection of projects, the alignment with participating Member States and the pre-notification and notification to the European Commission.
The Memorandum sets the framework for Romania to prepare its participation in this European initiative by organizing the national process of identification and selection of eligible projects. To this end, MEDAT will launch the call for Expressions of Interest (EoI) addressed to companies, consortia and other interested entities, will coordinate the evaluation and selection of projects proposed for inclusion in the European package and will participate in the matchmaking phase with the Member States involved. It will also manage the pre-notification and notification procedures to the European Commission and monitor and report on the implementation of the selected projects.
At European Union level, IPCEI-type projects are strategic instruments through which Member States coordinate their investments in technology areas with a major impact on economic competitiveness and industrial self-sufficiency. In the semiconductor sector, these initiatives aim to strengthen European research, design and manufacturing capabilities, reduce external dependencies and develop resilient value chains in an area that is crucial for the digital economy.
The IPCEI dedicated to Advanced Semiconductor Technologies (AST) aims to strengthen Europe's position in the global semiconductor industry, in a context of accelerating technological transformations driven by artificial intelligence, automation, security and sustainability. The initiative aims to develop next-generation technologies in seven strategic areas: chips and accelerators for artificial intelligence, photonic integrated circuits, advanced integration technologies and chips, disruptive sensors, power electronics and energy efficiency solutions, secure communications, as well as generic strategic technologies such as equipment, materials and design tools.
Semiconductors are a critical infrastructure for the global economy, being embedded in most electronic devices and industrial sectors such as automotive, telecommunications, defense, energy, IT services or life sciences. The economic importance of this sector is growing, with estimates indicating that global semiconductor industry revenues could reach around €1 trillion by 2030.
For the European Union, strengthening this sector has become a strategic priority, reflected in initiatives such as the EU Chips Act, which aims to boost Europe's technological and industrial capacity and bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and industrial production.
For Romania, the participation in IPCEI AST represents an opportunity to integrate into the European semiconductor ecosystem, by developing research, innovation and industrialization projects and by strengthening cooperation between industry, universities and research centres. Involvement in this initiative can facilitate access to dedicated European funding, including through the future European Competitiveness Fund, and support the development of advanced skills and technological infrastructure needed in this field.
Romania is already involved in European projects relevant to the semiconductor sector. Through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, under Component C9 - Support for the Private Sector, Research, Development and Innovation - Investments in Microelectronics and Innovation - PIIEC ME/CT C9/I4, the Romanian State is implementing the investment dedicated to cross-border and multinational projects on low energy processors and semiconductor chips, by contracting three projects with direct participants and 20 sub-projects related to companies and research organizations in the field. By the end of 2025, Romania has fully met its commitments, with at least 10 entities participating or associated to the multinational project having been selected and a minimum of €360 million contracted for the development of these initiatives.
By approving the Memorandum, the Government creates the necessary institutional framework for Romania's participation in the future IPCEI AST and for capitalizing on investment and innovation opportunities in the field of advanced semiconductor technologies, with the objective of strengthening industrial competitiveness and integrating the Romanian economy into European value chains.