The European Union is making a bold investment in the future of the semiconductor industry, allocating more than €43 billion as part of the European Chips Act. This ambitious initiative aims to double Europe's global market share from the current 10% to 20%, with a strong focus on advancing technological innovation. A key element of this strategy is the “Chips for Europe” initiative, which seeks to establish a network of competence centers that will pool technical expertise, foster experimentation, and provide support to companies—particularly startups and SMEs—in optimizing their design and manufacturing capabilities.

AT&S, a shareholder in the “Silicon Alps Cluster,” is proud to announce that the European Commission has approved its application for two significant initiatives: AT-C³ – The Austrian Competence Center for Chips, and aCCCess – The Alliance of Chips Competence Centers for Enhanced Semiconductor Services. These initiatives will receive over €8 million in funding for the period from 2025 to 2028.

Peter Griehsnig, CTO of AT&S, commented on the approval, saying, “We are thrilled with this decision. It represents a major success for the region and our robust microelectronics ecosystem in southern Austria. It is particularly exciting that areas like advanced semiconductor packaging and power electronics, where AT&S is a global leader, have been prioritized.”

AT-C³ will serve as a central hub for chip development within Austria's semiconductor ecosystem, led by the Silicon Alps Cluster in partnership with prominent organizations like SAL, MCL, PCCL, AIT, and TU Graz. The initiative's goal is to enhance Austria's innovation capacity, shorten development cycles, and provide fabless companies with access to European open foundries. Additionally, the center will support startups in the electronics systems and component manufacturing (ESBS) sector and address the skilled labor shortage through targeted training programs.

Peter Schneider, Spokesperson for the AT&S Management Board, added, “With the AT-C³ competence center, Austria is positioning itself as a vital player in the European semiconductor ecosystem. This initiative will actively contribute to the objectives of the European Chips Act by boosting international competitiveness and innovation. We are proud of AT&S's role in advancing this initiative through our involvement in the Silicon Alps Cluster.”

The AT-C³ competence center will act as a "one-stop shop" for both industry and research, providing access to European chip pilot lines, design platforms, design services, the ENCCC (European Network of Competence Centers in Chips), and the Chips Fund. The center is expected to accelerate the development of new technologies and products while also offering training programs to address the growing skills gap in the semiconductor sector.

AT&S (Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik AG) is a global leader in the production of high-end IC substrates and printed circuit boards (PCBs). The company is at the forefront of industrializing cutting-edge technologies across sectors such as mobile devices, automotive and aerospace, industrial and medical applications, and high-performance processors for VR and AI.

With a strong global presence, AT&S operates production facilities in Austria (Leoben, Fehring), India (Nanjangud), China (Shanghai, Chongqing), and Korea (Ansan near Seoul). A new state-of-the-art IC substrate production site is under construction in Malaysia (Kulim), and a European competence center for IC substrate technologies is being developed in Leoben, with production slated to begin in FY 2024/25.

AT&S employs over 13,500 people worldwide and remains committed to driving innovation in semiconductor technologies, supporting the EU's goal of strengthening its position in the global semiconductor market.