The European Commission, representing the European Union (EU), along with the Republic of Korea (ROK), announced the selection of four collaborative projects in semiconductors. These projects, jointly supported, will see a total investment of around €12 million, split equally between the EU and the National Research Foundation of Korea. The research aims to advance heterogeneous integration, combining multiple components on a single chip, and to develop neuromorphic chips designed to mimic the brain’s learning and adaptability for more efficient artificial intelligence systems.
Research and innovation partners from both regions will collaborate in joint research teams, sharing access to research facilities. The selected EU-ROK projects are:
- ENERGIZE: Developing brain-like circuits using two-dimensional materials to save energy and handle AI tasks effectively without centralized data centers.
- NEHIL: Creating a laser-based radar system that integrates various technologies to measure distances with high precision efficiently.
- HAETAE: Designing brain-like chips that utilize light in their circuitry for quick and efficient AI task processing and adaptability.
- ViTFOX: Enhancing AI that processes visual data using special materials, such as ferroelectric oxides, to save power and improve performance.
These projects are set to run for three years and are co-funded by the Chips Joint Undertaking under Horizon Europe and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF).
About EU – ROK Digital Partnership
The joint projects stem from a digital partnership initiated in November 2022, with the announcement following the partners’ second meeting in Brussels in March 2024.
This cooperation encompasses technologies such as semiconductors, 5G and beyond, quantum computing, high performance computing, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. March also saw Brussels hosting the inaugural EU-Korea semiconductor Researchers’ Forum, organised by ICOS Project, with the second forum scheduled for next year in Seoul.
South Korea plans to establish a Korea-EU semiconductor R&D cooperation center in Brussels. This center is expected to be set up in the second half of this year within the existing Korea-EU Research Centre (KERC), which will expand its role from 2025 as the nation’s strategic R&D hub in Europe.
In March, Korea officially joined Horizon Europe, allowing Korean researchers to apply for grants on an equal footing with EU researchers in pillar II of the program, which focuses on industrial and global challenges starting in 2025.
The EU aims to reduce dependencies on other regions for key technologies, but the complexity of the semiconductor value chain necessitates international collaboration. The Chips Joint Undertaking seeks to pursue a strategy of international partnerships. The joint call with South Korea was the first concrete step in this direction, followed by the UK’s joining of the Chips Joint Undertaking. For the EU, partnering with South Korean institutes provides access to some of the world’s most advanced semiconductor technologies and manufacturing capabilities, complementing Europe’s strengths in research and innovation. Conversely, South Korean institutes will benefit from the EU’s leadership in research and innovation, particularly its emphasis on sustainable development.
Sources:
“EU and South Korea announce winners of four co-funded semiconductor projects” by ScienceIBusiness
“EC New Press Release mentioning the forum we have jointly organised!” by ICOS