Portuguese Competence Centre for Semiconductors Launched at INL in Braga

The Portuguese Competence Centre for Semiconductors (POEMS) held its inaugural meeting yesterday, marking a significant milestone in the country’s semiconductor industry. Hosted by the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), the launch session showcased the consortium’s key areas of expertise and strategic goals.

Co-funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) and the Chips Joint Undertaking – European Union, POEMS is set to become one of 27 European semiconductor competence centres. These centres aim to empower companies to advance semiconductor development, a critical component in the global technology landscape.

POEMS, as a cutting-edge initiative under the Chips Joint Undertaking initiative, directly addresses the critical needs outlined in Axis 1 of the National Semiconductor Strategy. This strategic alignment aims to catapult Portugal to the forefront of semiconductor innovation and production, specifically focusing on microelectronics and semiconductors. These areas are pivotal for elevating the existing industrial and technological capacities to meet key global challenges.

Focusing on the strategic areas of chip design, advanced packaging, and emerging semiconductor technologies, POEMS leverages the diverse expertise of its 16 consortium partners. These partners include leading research and academic institutions that bring specialised training resources and cutting-edge capabilities.

In Portugal, the 16 POEMS partners will play a pivotal role in monitoring advancements in microelectronics, evaluating national needs, and fostering collaboration between academia, research institutions, and industry. This initiative is expected to drive innovation and growth within the semiconductor sector, positioning Portugal as a key player in the European semiconductor ecosystem.

The consortium includes prominent institutions such as Universidade de Aveiro, CeNTI – Centre for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Ciência Viva, INESC TEC, UNINOVA, INESC Microssistemas e Nanotecnologias, Universidade do Porto, PQI – Portuguese Quantum Institute, Universidade do Minho, INESC-ID, Instituto Superior Técnico, VORTEX-CoLab, Instituto de Telecomunicações, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, and Universidade de Coimbra.

For more information and to follow upcoming activities, visit POEMS website.