Topic Description

While the state-of-the-art micro/nano-electronics technologies and their manufacturing are being further advanced towards market-readiness in the context of the ECSEL Joint Undertaking, it is essential to prepare for the future of the electronics industry the next wave of industry-relevant technologies to extend the limits (technological and/or economic) mainstream technologies will be facing in the medium term^[1]. This is essential to maintain and increase Europe's longer-term capacity in the design and manufacturing of these technologies and to strengthen the competitiveness and market leadership of the many industries innovating through these technologies.

a. Research and Innovation actions

The work must be in the scope of one of the following topics:

• the development of new approaches to scale functional performance of information processing and storage substantially beyond the state-of-the-art technologies with a focus on ultra-low power and high performance. Work may address materials, processes, device and component architectures, system micro-architectures (processor and memory), security, design, modelling, simulation and nano-characterization, and must consider integration, systemability and manufacturability. Technologies exploiting the quantum effects in solid-state devices are also relevant. Advanced explorative technology development at TRL 2-3 is called for.
• 3D sequential integration (at transistor scale) possibly mixed with 3D parallel integration (at circuit level) for system solutions to increase functionalities and capabilities. Work could address interconnects (intra-layer and vertical structures), design challenges (3D design kits and tools, power models and optimization), prototyping and test methods. Proposals at TRL 2-3 are called for.

International cooperation with clear EU industrial benefits may be considered preferably with nations that have substantial research in the area (e.g. Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the USA).

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of between EUR 2 and 4 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

b. Innovation action^[2]

In Equipment Assessment Experiments, suppliers of innovative high-tech equipment install, assess and validate their prototypes or products that have left the R&D phase in environments that are very close to real-life conditions in cooperation with end-user. Proposals at TRL 6-7 are called for.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU between EUR 1 and 2 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

c. Coordination and Support actions

In view of promoting the attractiveness of careers in micro/nanoelectronics towards young people, a dedicated pan-European challenge event should be proposed to showcase the possibilities offered by state-of-the-art hardware technologies (similar to the European code week for software apps). The sustainability of this event should also be addressed.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of about EUR 0.5 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Proposals should address the following impact criteria and provide metrics to measure and monitor success

a. Research and Innovation actions

The actions will aim at contributing to the future growth in Europe of the micro-/nanoelectronics and related industries.

• The proposals must describe how the proposed developments of new/enabling technologies will contribute to the target of doubling the economic value of semiconductor component production in Europe within the next 10 years as set by the Electronics Leaders Group in their strategic roadmap^[3] and implementation plan^[4].
• The proposals must outline a realistic roadmap for further progressing on the TRL range beyond the project timeframe and a concrete business perspective describing expected markets for the industrial partners and impact for European industry and society at large.

b. Innovation actions

• Proposals should clearly demonstrate the route from assessment to first use of the equipment. The user requirements of the equipment to be assessed should represent significant improvements to existing equipment in terms of capability, precision, efficiency or other characteristics opening new avenues of deployment.

c. Coordination and Support actions

• The actions will raise the awareness of young people for the potential offered by a technological career thereby attracting more students to the field.
• The proposed event should have ambitious targets in the number of participations (reach-out to thousands of students) and the scope of the activities (designs and prototypes) to be showcased.

[1]Graphene is covered by the eponym FET Flagship initiative

[2]Access actions (including EuroPractice-type actions) are addressed under ICT-4

[3]https://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/electronics-roadmap-europe

[4]https://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/news/european-industrial-strategic-roadmap-micro-and-nano-electronic-components-and-systems-0