On Wednesday the Federal Cabinet passed a framework program on microelectronics with a focus on memory chips and processors, endowed with million euros. The aim is to “remain technologically sovereign and mature” with these very research-intensive basic technologies of digitization, explained Federal Research Minister Anja Karliczek afterwards. In this way, “geopolitical risks” should also be avoided.

The focus of the content from the beginning 2021 until the end of the 2024 ongoing funding program are “trustworthy electronics” and “green information and communication technology”. Germany and Europe should be able to “understand, manufacture and actively develop” the technology on the basis of their own competence, explained the minister.

“Electronics that are verifiably trustworthy ” The electrical engineering association VDE had previously worked out in a study that when it comes to technological sovereignty, chips are all about the whole thing. Meanwhile, a trade dispute is raging between the USA and China, whereby Huawei, for example, may no longer be supplied with semiconductor technology that is linked to US know-how.

“We want to cooperate on an equal footing with other countries and maintain value chains,” Karliczek now emphasized, without referring directly to the Huawei debate. “We want electronics that can be proven to be trustworthy”. It must be understandable “what it does or doesn’t do”.

Climate-friendly and sustainable As examples for The CDU politician named automated circuit and system designs for computer blueprints, special processors for edge computing, for artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance on-site applications beyond common cloud services and networked sensor technology for Industry 4.0 as research-relevant areas. Projects relating to high-frequency electronics, for example for radio masts, cell phones or radar sensors, or safety-critical industrial applications, including autonomous driving, could also be funded . It is important to get the “insane hunger for energy of digital applications” under control, for example with energy-efficient AI processors or solutions that do not first have to be transferred to the cloud or to a central computer.

European priorities The program follows on from a predecessor of 2016 , from which the competitive funding guidelines are partly derived. Companies with strong research skills, including medium-sized companies that network with universities and ensure rapid knowledge transfer, should apply. According to the minister, spin-offs from research institutions can also play a role. “European collaborative research” is desirable because Germany can best achieve technological sovereignty through the EU. In addition, the production of semiconductors is very capital-intensive.

The program is intended to help several federal government projects such as the high-tech strategy 2025 and to implement the climate protection program 2030. The Federal Ministry of Economics is responsible for maintaining or expanding its own economical electronics production in Germany. Because if production migrates, sooner or later this will also happen with research and know-how. The areas of microelectronics and communication technologies are therefore to be supported in a new transnational priority project of common European interest (IPCEI).

(axk)