As part of the Chips Act initiative, researchers from Łukasiewicz – Institute of Microelectronics and Photonics are embarking on an ambitious project to build a state-of-the-art pilot line of wide-bandgap semiconductors. It will provide opportunities to create new products and shorten supply chains to Europe.
The project focuses on developing advanced semiconductor technologies with applications in key sectors such as industrial, automotive, renewable energy, consumer electronics and defence. The construction of the line is expected to begin as early as the beginning of 2025, and Lukasiewicz – IMiF and the Institute of High Pressure Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences will receive EUR 50 million to achieve their goals.
New line, new opportunities
The project will launch the WBG Pilot Line (Wide Band Gap semiconductors pilot line), which will be one of four pilot lines funded by the European Union and Member States. The international consortium comprises 22 research units and universities from Italy, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Germany, France, and Poland.
The pilot line constitutes the development of innovative material and instrument technologies based on wide bandgap semiconductors such as gallium nitride (GaN), silicon carbide (SiC), and gallium oxide (Ga2O3). The Polish research and development units, Łukasiewicz – IMIF and IWC PAN, will be responsible for developing techniques for the growth of GaN substrates and epitaxial layers, as well as GaN and Ga2O3-based device manufacturing technologies.
The project provides for expanding the capacity of the GaN Instrument, Sensor, and Porous Materials Technology Laboratory through purchasing and installing new process equipment.
New products and shorter supply chains
Thanks to implementing the pilot line, companies, start-ups, and research units will have access to the latest semiconductor technologies, which may consequently increase the competitiveness and level of innovation of Polish and European companies. This will contribute to creating new products and shortening the supply chain.
An important role of the pilot line is also to train young academics and students from all over Europe, which will create new jobs for technical and science graduates.
For Łukasiewicz - IMiF it is a great honour to be among Europe's leading scientific institutions and to be building the future of semiconductor technology together. We hope that the implementation of this project will increase the number of joint European initiatives in which Łukasiewicz will be involved, and thus significantly increase Poland's role in developing these technologies.
The Chips Act Pilot Line project constitutes an important step towards developing modern semiconductor technologies in Poland and Europe. With the involvement of national research units and international cooperation, the project has the potential to make a significant contribution to technological and scientific development in the area of advanced semiconductors.
