International cooperation in semiconductors (CSA)

Topic updates

02 October 2025
PROPOSAL NUMBERS

Call HORIZON-CL4-2025-03 has closed on 02.10.2025.

440 proposals have been submitted.

The breakdown per topic is:

HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-HUMAN-19: 6

Evaluation results are expected to be communicated in January 2026.

11 June 2025
Please note that due to a technical issue, during the first days of publication of this call, the topic page did not display the description of the corresponding destination. This problem is now solved.

In addition to the information published in the topic page, you can always find a full description of the Destination 6 ("Digital and industrial technologies driving human-centric innovation") that are relevant for the call in the Work Programme 2025 part for "Digital, Industry and Space". Please select from the work programme the destination relevant to your topic and take into account the description and expected impacts of that destination for the preparation of your proposal.

International cooperation in semiconductors (CSA)

TOPIC ID: HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-HUMAN-19

Type of grant: Call for proposals

General information

Programme:

Call: DIGITAL - CNECT (HORIZON-CL4-2025-03)

Type of action: HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions

Type of MGA: HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG]

Status: Forthcoming

Deadline model: single-stage

Planned Opening Date: 10 June 2025

Deadline dates: 02 October 2025 17:00 (Brussels time)

Topic description

Expected Outcome:

Project results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:

• Evidence-based advice to the Commission and the Member States on joint actions with leading semiconductor countries (including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, USA, Canada, and India) in support of EU policies.
• Support to the Commission to define and implement measures aiming at strengthening the position of Europe’s industry in the global semiconductor value chain.
• Support to the Commission in implementing actions related to research cooperation, e.g. within the Digital Partnerships.
• Factual elements (e.g. mapping supply chains in leading countries, analyses of state-of-the-art, emerging technologies…) that help the Commission in assessing potential areas of cooperation.

Scope:

Within the context of semiconductor and semiconductor-based photonics (e.g. silicon photonics), the CSA will support the Commission and the Member States in the following activities:

• Preparation of a regional mapping of leading semiconductor countries outside of the EU regarding supply chains, industrial strengths, gaps and their expected evolution;
• Identification of emerging opportunities (e.g. technologies, approaches) for cooperation with other regions;
• Definition of research areas in which international cooperation would result in tangible benefits for Europe;
• Analysis of risks to the EU’s technological advancements, technological competitiveness, and access to leading-edge technology vis-à-vis international cooperation countries;
• Analysis of risks related to EU economic security in the semiconductor area including due to potential over-capacities for production of mainstream chips^[1], export controls and non-market policies and practices.
• Promotion and contribution to standardisation activities;
• Organisation of joint events contributing to the above outcomes;
• Promotion of mobility of researchers in specific topics (in cooperation with other support schemes);
• Preparation of a comparative analysis of modalities for cooperation and their applicability.

The Commission will actively engage with Member States via the European Semiconductor Board ensuring that their interests and views are taken into account.

Projects are expected to ensure complementarities with projects funded under the following topics:

• HORIZON-CL4-2022-DIGITAL-EMERGING-01-38: International cooperation in semiconductors (CSA)
• Chips Diplomacy Support Initiative - EU action grant in the field of pilot projects and preparatory actions^[2]
• Chips Joint Undertaking’s HORIZON-Chips-2024-3-RIA: Joint call with Korea on Heterogeneous integration and neuromorphic computing technologies for future semiconductor components and systems

And to develop synergies with projects funded under the Digital Europe Programme (DEP).

[1] Mainstream chips denote semiconductor devices manufactured at node sizes equal or greater than 28 nm.

[2] See Chips Diplomacy Support Initiative | Shaping Europe’s digital future (europa.eu)

Start submission

The submission system is planned to be opened on the date stated on the topic header.

Get support

Please read carefully all provisions below before the preparation of your application.

Online Manual is your guide on the procedures from proposal submission to managing your grant.

Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains the detailed guidance to the structure, budget and political priorities of Horizon Europe.

Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – find the answers to most frequently asked questions on submission of proposals, evaluation and grant management.

Research Enquiry Service – ask questions about any aspect of European research in general and the EU Research Framework Programmes in particular.

National Contact Points (NCPs) – get guidance, practical information and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe. There are also NCPs in many non-EU and non-associated countries (‘third-countries’).

Enterprise Europe Network – contact your EEN national contact for advice to businesses with special focus on SMEs. The support includes guidance on the EU research funding.

IT Helpdesk – contact the Funding & Tenders Portal IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc.

European IPR Helpdesk assists you on intellectual property issues.

CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk – the European Standards Organisations advise you how to tackle standardisation in your project proposal.

The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment – consult the general principles and requirements specifying the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers, employers and funders of researchers.

Partner Search help you find a partner organisation for your proposal.