Funding & European Opportunities

Microelectronics and semiconductor innovation often requires long development cycles, specialized facilities, and significant investment, so access to the right public funding and EU initiatives can strongly influence how quickly new technologies can be developed, piloted, and scaled.

The Finnish Chips Competence Centre (FiCCC) supports companies, start-ups, and research organisations in identifying and understanding relevant public and private funding opportunities for microelectronics- and semiconductor-related activities. FiCCC helps stakeholders spot key opportunities, choose the right access route, and prepare stronger applications, reducing financial risk and support growth.

On this page, we provide an overview of key funding options relevant to the semiconductor ecosystem in Finland, including their scope, eligibility, and access routes.

How FiCCC supports you: two complementary access tracks

In practice, semiconductor stakeholders typically use two complementary tracks:

1.

Funding instruments

(grants, programmes, financing)

Public grants and programmes at EU and national level (and, later, private investment and industry-driven financing) can support research, development, innovation, piloting, and scaling.

2.

EU Chips Act access routes

(platforms, facilities, services)

In parallel, the European Chips Act provides access pathways to shared capabilities, such as design enablement, prototyping services, and pilot-line facilities, that help bridge the gap between research and industrial deployment.

Guidance and door-opening in EU / Chips Act opportunities

FiCCC supports Finnish companies in accessing EU-level resources such as the Chips JU Design Platform (EuroCDP), MPW services, pilot lines (APECS, FAMES, NanoIC, PIXEurope, WBG, and other relevant pilot-line initiatives), and other Chips Act–funded programmes and services. This support includes mapping relevant contacts, tools, and platforms, and acting as an intermediary to facilitate engagement and help companies understand access routes and eligibility expectations.

What do we want to achieve together?

Referral to EU Design Platform, pilot-line services, or other competence centers
Introductions to PDK providers and tool licensing opportunities
Introductions to technology providers and prototyping/piloting opportunities
Alignment with pilot-line opportunities and/or funding calls relevant to the company
Increased participation of Finnish stakeholders in EU-wide initiatives and activities