Overview
The HORIZON-JU-CHIPS-2026-1-IA call, part of the Horizon Europe program, offers grant funding aimed at fostering innovation in the semiconductor industry. Eligible applicants include large enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), universities, research institutions, and public organizations that can form industrial consortia. The funding mechanism is an Innovation Action, covering up to 70% of eligible project costs, with a required co-funding of 30% from applicants or other sources.
The total budget for this call is 40 million euros, with expected grants ranging from 1 million to 15 million euros per project, targeting a total of approximately five grants. Projects must be at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) between 5 and 8, focusing on technology development, demonstration, and early commercialization. The target areas include advancing semiconductor manufacturing technologies, with applications in microelectronics and electronic components.
The application process consists of a two-stage submission: a concept note due on May 7, 2026, and a full proposal due on September 17, 2026, for successful concept submissions. The geographic focus primarily surrounds EU member states and associated countries, reinforcing the goal of enhancing Europe's semiconductor industry to achieve strategic technological autonomy.
Success rates are expected to be competitive, likely falling below 10%, and partnerships are encouraged to demonstrate innovative technology and realistic deployment plans that yield economic value in Europe. The call promotes collaboration among different organization types to establish a diverse portfolio of projects that address both supply and demand within the semiconductor ecosystem.
Overall, this grant opportunity underlines the EU's commitment to strengthening technological advancements and innovation capacity within the semiconductor sector to support economic growth and independence. Applicants are advised to leverage available resources, including the Chips JU website and the Funding & Tenders Portal, for assistance in preparing their proposals.
The total budget for this call is 40 million euros, with expected grants ranging from 1 million to 15 million euros per project, targeting a total of approximately five grants. Projects must be at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) between 5 and 8, focusing on technology development, demonstration, and early commercialization. The target areas include advancing semiconductor manufacturing technologies, with applications in microelectronics and electronic components.
The application process consists of a two-stage submission: a concept note due on May 7, 2026, and a full proposal due on September 17, 2026, for successful concept submissions. The geographic focus primarily surrounds EU member states and associated countries, reinforcing the goal of enhancing Europe's semiconductor industry to achieve strategic technological autonomy.
Success rates are expected to be competitive, likely falling below 10%, and partnerships are encouraged to demonstrate innovative technology and realistic deployment plans that yield economic value in Europe. The call promotes collaboration among different organization types to establish a diverse portfolio of projects that address both supply and demand within the semiconductor ecosystem.
Overall, this grant opportunity underlines the EU's commitment to strengthening technological advancements and innovation capacity within the semiconductor sector to support economic growth and independence. Applicants are advised to leverage available resources, including the Chips JU website and the Funding & Tenders Portal, for assistance in preparing their proposals.
Detail
The HORIZON-JU-CHIPS-2026-1-IA call, under the Horizon Europe program, focuses on HORIZON JU Innovation Actions (HORIZON-JU-IA) within the Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU). The call adopts a two-stage submission process. The first deadline is May 7, 2026, and the second is September 17, 2026, both at 17:00 Brussels time. The call opens on February 3, 2026.
The total budget allocated to this topic is 40,000,000 EUR for the year 2026. The expected contribution per project ranges from 1,000,000 to 15,000,000 EUR, with an indicative number of 5 grants to be awarded.
The activities funded under this call should primarily be at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 5-8. An Innovation Action (IA) proposal within Chips JU should demonstrate one or more of the following characteristics:
Execution by an industrial consortium, potentially including large enterprises, SMEs, universities, research institutes, and public organizations.
Utilization of innovative technology.
Establishment of a realistic innovation environment closely linked to an industrial setting, such as:
A pilot line facility for manufacturing.
A zone for full-scale testing.
Development of new processes or tools and their implementation across various domains.
Development of frameworks or platforms and their application in innovative products.
Inclusion of a deployment plan that leads to short- to mid-term economic value creation within Europe.
To effectively meet the objectives of the Chips JU, the selected IA proposals should form a balanced portfolio of projects. This portfolio should encompass the development of innovative technologies, as defined in the SRIA (Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda) within the functional technology layers and cross-sectional technologies sections, and their application across different domains, as outlined in the SRIA's ECS (Electronic Components and Systems) key application areas section. The call emphasizes that the size of the proposal is not an evaluation criterion, and Chips JU aims to support a mix of both small and large projects.
Regarding admissibility conditions, the proposal page limits and layout are detailed in Part B of the Application Form, which can be found in the Call Documents section on the Chips JU website. Additional information is available in Appendix 7 of the Chips JU Work Programme.
Applicants are advised to visit the Call page on the Chips JU website for comprehensive details. The Call Documents Section contains all relevant documents, including:
Reference documents:
Guide for Applicants
Evaluation form
Call submission documents and annexes:
Application form template Part B
National funding table template
Ownership declaration template
Guidance:
HE (Horizon Europe) Programme Guide
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
HE MGA
Call-specific instructions
Information on financial support to third parties (HE)
Information on clinical studies (HE)
Additional documents:
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement
For partner searches, Legal Entity Appointed Representatives (LEARs), Account Administrators, and self-registered users with active public profiles can publish partner requests on the Funding & Tenders Portal.
To start the submission process, applicants should click the submission button corresponding to their chosen action type and model grant agreement. After confirming their choice, they will be directed to the appropriate entry point in the submission system. Existing draft proposals can be accessed via the My Proposals page in the My Area section of the Funding & Tenders Portal.
Applicants are urged to carefully review all provisions before preparing their applications. The Online Manual serves as a guide for procedures from proposal submission to grant management. For call-related inquiries, applicants can contact calls@chips-ju.europa.eu. The Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ provides answers to frequently asked questions about proposal submission, evaluation, and grant management. For technical issues, such as forgotten passwords or access rights, applicants can contact the IT Helpdesk. A Partner Search tool is also available to help applicants find suitable partner organizations.
In summary, this Chips JU call aims to foster innovation in the European semiconductor industry by funding projects that develop and deploy advanced technologies. It seeks to create a balanced portfolio of projects, ranging from small to large scale, that address both the supply and demand sides of the semiconductor ecosystem. The call encourages collaboration between industry, academia, and public organizations to establish realistic innovation environments and drive economic value creation in Europe. Applicants should consult all provided documentation and utilize available support resources to prepare competitive proposals.
The total budget allocated to this topic is 40,000,000 EUR for the year 2026. The expected contribution per project ranges from 1,000,000 to 15,000,000 EUR, with an indicative number of 5 grants to be awarded.
The activities funded under this call should primarily be at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 5-8. An Innovation Action (IA) proposal within Chips JU should demonstrate one or more of the following characteristics:
Execution by an industrial consortium, potentially including large enterprises, SMEs, universities, research institutes, and public organizations.
Utilization of innovative technology.
Establishment of a realistic innovation environment closely linked to an industrial setting, such as:
A pilot line facility for manufacturing.
A zone for full-scale testing.
Development of new processes or tools and their implementation across various domains.
Development of frameworks or platforms and their application in innovative products.
Inclusion of a deployment plan that leads to short- to mid-term economic value creation within Europe.
To effectively meet the objectives of the Chips JU, the selected IA proposals should form a balanced portfolio of projects. This portfolio should encompass the development of innovative technologies, as defined in the SRIA (Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda) within the functional technology layers and cross-sectional technologies sections, and their application across different domains, as outlined in the SRIA's ECS (Electronic Components and Systems) key application areas section. The call emphasizes that the size of the proposal is not an evaluation criterion, and Chips JU aims to support a mix of both small and large projects.
Regarding admissibility conditions, the proposal page limits and layout are detailed in Part B of the Application Form, which can be found in the Call Documents section on the Chips JU website. Additional information is available in Appendix 7 of the Chips JU Work Programme.
Applicants are advised to visit the Call page on the Chips JU website for comprehensive details. The Call Documents Section contains all relevant documents, including:
Reference documents:
Guide for Applicants
Evaluation form
Call submission documents and annexes:
Application form template Part B
National funding table template
Ownership declaration template
Guidance:
HE (Horizon Europe) Programme Guide
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
HE MGA
Call-specific instructions
Information on financial support to third parties (HE)
Information on clinical studies (HE)
Additional documents:
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement
For partner searches, Legal Entity Appointed Representatives (LEARs), Account Administrators, and self-registered users with active public profiles can publish partner requests on the Funding & Tenders Portal.
To start the submission process, applicants should click the submission button corresponding to their chosen action type and model grant agreement. After confirming their choice, they will be directed to the appropriate entry point in the submission system. Existing draft proposals can be accessed via the My Proposals page in the My Area section of the Funding & Tenders Portal.
Applicants are urged to carefully review all provisions before preparing their applications. The Online Manual serves as a guide for procedures from proposal submission to grant management. For call-related inquiries, applicants can contact calls@chips-ju.europa.eu. The Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ provides answers to frequently asked questions about proposal submission, evaluation, and grant management. For technical issues, such as forgotten passwords or access rights, applicants can contact the IT Helpdesk. A Partner Search tool is also available to help applicants find suitable partner organizations.
In summary, this Chips JU call aims to foster innovation in the European semiconductor industry by funding projects that develop and deploy advanced technologies. It seeks to create a balanced portfolio of projects, ranging from small to large scale, that address both the supply and demand sides of the semiconductor ecosystem. The call encourages collaboration between industry, academia, and public organizations to establish realistic innovation environments and drive economic value creation in Europe. Applicants should consult all provided documentation and utilize available support resources to prepare competitive proposals.
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Breakdown
Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity include large enterprises, SMEs, universities, research institutes, public organizations, and other types of organizations that can form an industrial consortium.
Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG]. The call is for HORIZON JU Innovation Actions (HORIZON-JU-IA).
Consortium Requirement: A consortium of multiple applicants is required. The call specifies execution by an industrial consortium.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is implied to be within Europe, as the deployment plan should lead to short to midterm economic value creation in Europe.
Target Sector: The target sector is the semiconductor industry, specifically focusing on innovative technologies in functional technology layers and cross-sectional technologies, and their application in ECS (Electronic Components and Systems) key application areas. This includes the development of new processes or tools and their introduction in several domains, and the development of frameworks or platforms together with the usage of these frameworks or platforms in innovative products.
Mentioned Countries: While no specific countries are mentioned, the focus is on Europe, implying that beneficiaries should be based in Europe.
Project Stage: The activities should have their center of gravity at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 5-8. This indicates that the projects should be at the technology validation, demonstration, or system prototype demonstration in an operational environment stage.
Funding Amount: The funding range is between 1,000,000 EUR to 15,000,000 EUR. The total budget for the topic is 40,000,000 EUR, and the indicative number of grants is 5.
Application Type: The application type is an open call with a two-stage submission process.
Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant.
Application Stages: The application process consists of two stages.
Success Rates: Given that the total budget is 40,000,000 EUR and the indicative number of grants is 5, with individual grants ranging from 1,000,000 EUR to 15,000,000 EUR, the success rate is likely to be below 10%, although this is an estimation based on the limited information provided.
Co-funding Requirement: The document does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.
Summary:
This is a call for proposals under the Horizon Europe program, specifically targeting the Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU) with the topic HORIZON-JU-CHIPS-2026-1-IA. The call aims to fund Innovation Actions (IA) that develop innovative technologies in the semiconductor industry, focusing on functional and cross-sectional technology layers and their application in Electronic Components and Systems (ECS) key application areas. The expected outcome is the establishment of new and realistic innovation environments connected with an industrial environment, such as pilot lines, testing zones, and the development of new processes, tools, frameworks, or platforms. The projects should have a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) between 5 and 8, indicating a focus on technology validation and demonstration. The call requires the execution of projects by industrial consortia, including large enterprises, SMEs, universities, research institutes, and public organizations. The projects should have a deployment plan leading to short to midterm economic value creation in Europe. The total budget for this topic is 40,000,000 EUR, with an indicative number of 5 grants to be awarded, ranging from 1,000,000 EUR to 15,000,000 EUR each. The application process is a two-stage process, with deadlines on May 7, 2026, and September 17, 2026. Applicants are required to submit their proposals electronically through the Funding & Tenders Portal. The call encourages partner searches and provides access to various support documents and FAQs to assist applicants in preparing their proposals.
Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG]. The call is for HORIZON JU Innovation Actions (HORIZON-JU-IA).
Consortium Requirement: A consortium of multiple applicants is required. The call specifies execution by an industrial consortium.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is implied to be within Europe, as the deployment plan should lead to short to midterm economic value creation in Europe.
Target Sector: The target sector is the semiconductor industry, specifically focusing on innovative technologies in functional technology layers and cross-sectional technologies, and their application in ECS (Electronic Components and Systems) key application areas. This includes the development of new processes or tools and their introduction in several domains, and the development of frameworks or platforms together with the usage of these frameworks or platforms in innovative products.
Mentioned Countries: While no specific countries are mentioned, the focus is on Europe, implying that beneficiaries should be based in Europe.
Project Stage: The activities should have their center of gravity at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 5-8. This indicates that the projects should be at the technology validation, demonstration, or system prototype demonstration in an operational environment stage.
Funding Amount: The funding range is between 1,000,000 EUR to 15,000,000 EUR. The total budget for the topic is 40,000,000 EUR, and the indicative number of grants is 5.
Application Type: The application type is an open call with a two-stage submission process.
Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant.
Application Stages: The application process consists of two stages.
Success Rates: Given that the total budget is 40,000,000 EUR and the indicative number of grants is 5, with individual grants ranging from 1,000,000 EUR to 15,000,000 EUR, the success rate is likely to be below 10%, although this is an estimation based on the limited information provided.
Co-funding Requirement: The document does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.
Summary:
This is a call for proposals under the Horizon Europe program, specifically targeting the Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU) with the topic HORIZON-JU-CHIPS-2026-1-IA. The call aims to fund Innovation Actions (IA) that develop innovative technologies in the semiconductor industry, focusing on functional and cross-sectional technology layers and their application in Electronic Components and Systems (ECS) key application areas. The expected outcome is the establishment of new and realistic innovation environments connected with an industrial environment, such as pilot lines, testing zones, and the development of new processes, tools, frameworks, or platforms. The projects should have a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) between 5 and 8, indicating a focus on technology validation and demonstration. The call requires the execution of projects by industrial consortia, including large enterprises, SMEs, universities, research institutes, and public organizations. The projects should have a deployment plan leading to short to midterm economic value creation in Europe. The total budget for this topic is 40,000,000 EUR, with an indicative number of 5 grants to be awarded, ranging from 1,000,000 EUR to 15,000,000 EUR each. The application process is a two-stage process, with deadlines on May 7, 2026, and September 17, 2026. Applicants are required to submit their proposals electronically through the Funding & Tenders Portal. The call encourages partner searches and provides access to various support documents and FAQs to assist applicants in preparing their proposals.
Short Summary
Impact The funding aims to accelerate the development and commercialization of next-generation chip technologies in Europe, enhancing the semiconductor industry's capabilities. | Impact | The funding aims to accelerate the development and commercialization of next-generation chip technologies in Europe, enhancing the semiconductor industry's capabilities. |
Applicant Applicants should possess expertise in semiconductor technology, project management, and collaboration within industrial consortia. | Applicant | Applicants should possess expertise in semiconductor technology, project management, and collaboration within industrial consortia. |
Developments The funding will support projects focused on innovative technologies in semiconductor manufacturing, including lithography, chip architecture, and process technology. | Developments | The funding will support projects focused on innovative technologies in semiconductor manufacturing, including lithography, chip architecture, and process technology. |
Applicant Type This funding is designed for industrial consortia comprising large enterprises, SMEs, universities, research institutes, and public organizations. | Applicant Type | This funding is designed for industrial consortia comprising large enterprises, SMEs, universities, research institutes, and public organizations. |
Consortium A consortium of multiple applicants is required to apply for this funding opportunity. | Consortium | A consortium of multiple applicants is required to apply for this funding opportunity. |
Funding Amount Funding amounts range from €1,000,000 to €15,000,000 per project, with a total call budget of €40,000,000. | Funding Amount | Funding amounts range from €1,000,000 to €15,000,000 per project, with a total call budget of €40,000,000. |
Countries The funding is relevant for EU member states and Horizon-associated countries, as it aims to strengthen Europe's semiconductor industry. | Countries | The funding is relevant for EU member states and Horizon-associated countries, as it aims to strengthen Europe's semiconductor industry. |
Industry The funding targets the semiconductor sector within the broader context of the Digital, Industry and Space pillar of Horizon Europe. | Industry | The funding targets the semiconductor sector within the broader context of the Digital, Industry and Space pillar of Horizon Europe. |
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