Baltic states sign microchip cooperation memorandum

RIGA - To step up cooperation in the field of semiconductors, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have signed a cooperation memorandum, Santa Kola, a representative of Riga Technical University (RTU), told LETA.

She said that by aligning national strategies and pooling competences, the countries aim to accelerate innovation, expand research capacity and strengthen the role of the Baltic and Nordic countries in chip research in Europe.

The memorandum was signed by the organizations representing each country's Microchip Competence Centre - RTU and the University of Latvia (UL), the Lithuanian Centre for Physical Sciences and Technology and Estonia's Metrosert Applied Research Centre.

The memorandum focuses on three main areas of cooperation: promoting innovation and international visibility, developing research and education through joint training programs, facilitating knowledge exchange and access to research infrastructure, and supporting start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by facilitating their access to pilot production lines and research infrastructure through the Chips Joint Undertaking program.

The RTU representative noted that the memorandum is signed at a time when Europe is seeking to strengthen its semiconductor autonomy in the face of growing geopolitical uncertainties and challenges in global supply chains. The aCCCess initiative was launched in March this year to deepen cooperation at the European Union (EU) level in this area. With the signing of the memorandum of cooperation, the Baltic states are setting an example of international cooperation and supporting the European Chips Act's goal of doubling the region's semiconductor manufacturing capacity by 2030.

The cooperation memorandum signed by the Baltic Microchip Competence Centers continues the commitment of the Latvian Microchip Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the microchip ecosystem in the country. Building on the initiated cooperation, the Latvian Microchip Competence Centre was established in March this year to support the European Chips Act.

The next step for the Baltic partners is the preparation of a joint HORIZON-CSA project application to map the regional microchip ecosystem and develop a common strategy for the Baltic-Nordic Microchip Alliance. According to Kola, this will pave the way for future EU projects that will strengthen research infrastructure and support start-ups and SMEs in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.