Building a stronger European semiconductor ecosystem with the European Network of Chips Competence Centers
About aCCCess
aCCCess (Alliance of Chips Competence Centres for Enhanced Semiconductor Services) is a four-year Coordination and Support Action launched in March 2025 under the EU Chips Act. It aims to build a strong, interconnected European Network of Chips Competence Centres (ENCCC) that enables innovation, facilitates access to advanced semiconductor services, and strengthens Europe’s position in the global semiconductor value chain.
Network
Our network is comprised of Chip Competence Centers, Pilot lines and Design Platforms. Together, PLs and the DP empower the CCCs with cutting-edge infrastructure.
What is a Competence Center?
A Chips Competence Centre (CCC) is a hub of excellence providing access to specialised semiconductor knowledge, training, prototyping, testing, and small-scale production. These centres are pivotal to Europe's semiconductor strategy by:
- Supporting SMEs and start-ups with innovation services
- Bridging the gap between research and industry
- Promoting regional and pan-European know-how in chips and microelectronics
What is a Pilot Line & a Design Platform?
Pilot Lines (PLs) are advanced manufacturing facilities that help scale innovations from research to production, enabling validation in relevant environments.
The Design Platform (DP) is a cloud-based virtual environment providing state-of-the-art Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools and design libraries to:
- Accelerate chip design and prototyping
- Enable collaboration across Europe
- Support education and skills development in semiconductor design
Latest News
Training videos on YouTube
Upskill yourself for free with the learning videos produced by the Austrian Chips Competence Center. The first are already available on YouTube and will later be part of a full online course....
Chips Venture Forum 2025 Award... and the winner is Vertical Compute
The Chips Venture Forum 2025, organised by aCCCess and operated by Blumorpho in collaboration with the European Innovation Council and the European Commission, concluded on the 18 November 2025 at Messe Munich alongside SEMICON Europa bringing together Europes most promising semiconductor innovators and leading deep-tech investors....
Chips Venture Forum
Are you building the future of semiconductors, AI-powered systems, advanced materials, or edge computing? Benefit from the strengths of Competence Centres across Europe by joining a vibrant ecosystem of innovators and key stakeholders. This is your chance to accelerate your ideas and connect with experts in the semiconductor value chain....
Events
Webinar | Exploring the Grenoble semiconductor ecosystem & the FAMES Pilot Line
Feb 02, 2026 15:00 CETFeb 02, 2026 17:00 CET
Online
Semiconductors have become a strategic foundation for innovation, economic resilience and technological autonomy. Across Europe, collaboration, shared infrastructure and access to advanced technology are increasingly important to strengthen the semiconductor ecosystem. In this context, ChipNL CC is organising an online webinar that looks ahead to a planned delegation visit to Grenoble,...
Event hosted by
ECS Brokerage Event 2026
Feb 04, 2026 09:00 CETFeb 05, 2026 17:00 CET
The EGG, BrusselsRue Bara 175, 1070 Bruxelles
The ECS Brokerage Event combines the brokerage activities of the industry associations AENEAS, EPoSS and INSIDE into one networking event dedicated to project proposals for the new Chips JU Calls. This event gathers the ECS community around project ideas, allowing it to network, build consortia and start creating project proposals. The 2026...
Event hosted by
Official inauguration of the NanoIC pilot line
Feb 08, 2026 10:00 CETFeb 08, 2026 12:00 CET
This event will bring together key stakeholders to celebrate this major milestone for Europes semiconductor ecosystem. On February 9, 2026, imec will host the official inauguration of the NanoIC pilot line at its headquarters in Leuven, Belgium. This event will bring together key figures from the European semiconductor community, including...
Latest Trends
Quantum Sensors for Atomic Force Microscopes Are Integrated in the Chip
(Bild: TU Vienna) Compact instead of complex: Researchers at TU Wien have developed a capacitor with an electrode gap of just 32 nanometers that can be fully integrated into chips. This allows complex optical measuring systems to be replaced by electrical oscillating circuits.
CanopAI Project secures funding to advance photonic integration for AI data centres - New Electronics
French government is funding a new project aimed at advancing photonic technologies for AI and data centres.
U.S. Urges Taiwan to Diversify Chip Dominance to Avert Economic Crisis
In a stark warning at the World Economic Forum, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent raised concerns over the global reliance on Taiwan for semiconductor production, labeling it as a strategic vulnerability. Emphasizing that any major disruption in Taiwan's chip manufacturing could lead to dire economic consequences, Bessent cautioned of an "economic apocalypse" if Taiwan's chip capacity faced a blockade or destruction. This underscores the urgent need to diversify supply chains to mitigate risks and ensure economic stability.The Trump administration is actively seeking to reshore semiconductor and critical mineral supply chains back to the United States to reduce reliance on Taiwan. This effort aligns with the administration's broader strategy to protect national security interests and safeguard the economy from potential crises. By collaborating with G7 and allied nations, the U.S. aims to counter China's dominance in key resources, signaling a shift towards self-sufficiency and strategic autonomy in critical industries.Bessent called upon major U.S. defense contractors to prioritize domestic production over shareholder interests, highlighting the need for enhanced industrial investment. By urging defense contractors to focus on building domestic factories and reducing stock buybacks, Bessent emphasizes the importance of aligning private sector actions with national strategic goals. This directive reflects a more interventionist approach to industrial policy, emphasizing national security imperatives.Addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global supply chains, Bessent emphasized the urgency to secure key industries such as semiconductors and rare earth minerals essential for technological innovation. To counter China's leverage in critical minerals, the U.S. is spearheading a coalition with G7 nations and other allies to establish a secure supply chain for mining and processing these essential resources. This initiative aims to reduce dependence on China and enhance economic resilience in key sectors.Furthermore, the drive to reshore critical industries marks a long-term strategic recalibration towards securing economic foundations and reducing vulnerabilities to external disruptions. The recent U.S.-Taiwan semiconductor deal illustrates efforts to strengthen American manufacturing capabilities while prioritizing resilience and security over cost efficiency. As geopolitical tensions intensify, strategic realignments in global supply chains underscore the evolving landscape of economic statecraft and its implications for international relations and technological power dynamics.Amid escalating concerns over Taiwan's chip dominance, calls for diversification echo throughout global economic forums. Acknowledging the need to mitigate risks associated with concentrated production in Taiwan, industry leaders emphasize the importance of fostering a more balanced and resilient global supply chain. This shift towards diversification not only enhances supply chain resilience but also reduces the potential impact of geopolitical conflicts on global economic stability.The urgency to safeguard semiconductor supply chains and reduce reliance on Taiwan resonates across industry, academia, and government sectors. As countries reconsider their sourcing strategies in response to geopolitical realities, the focus on diversification becomes a critical component of strategic economic planning. By promoting technological self-reliance and supply chain resilience, nations can navigate global uncertainties more effectively and strengthen their economic foundations.In conclusion, the imperative to diversify semiconductor supply chains and enhance national manufacturing capabilities underscores the complex interplay between economic risks and strategic imperatives. Through concerted efforts to reshore critical industries and reduce dependencies on single points of failure, countries can mitigate vulnerabilities and build a more resilient economic foundation. Embracing diversified supply chains is not just a strategic choice but a crucial step towards ensuring economic stability in an increasingly interconnected and unpredictable global landscape.
aCCCess has received funding from the European Union’s Digital Europe Chips JU under Grant Agreement No 101217840.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or [name of the granting authority]. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.