When talking about micro-technologies, we are referring to those in millimetres. Nanotechnologies take us even smaller, to nanometres: one millionth of a millimetre, or 1/60,000 the width of a human hair.
Why are these tiny things so important?
We have come to depend more and more on electronic components and systems; these technologies and the solutions that they provide are the very basis of our everyday devices, such mobile phones and computers.
This is just the beginning
Within this field we are working at the frontiers of hardware and software. Micro and nano-electronics are part of the key enabling technologies (KETs). KETs are the drivers of the development of digital goods. They can open important new possibilities for Europe's growth and industrial competitiveness, create new jobs and usher in new products and services.
European Chips Act
The Commission adopted the European Chips Act in February 2022. The European Chips Act will help strengthen the semiconductor ecosystem in the EU, ensuring resilience of supply chains and reducing external dependencies. It will play a key role in ensuring the EU meets its digital decade target of doubling its global market share in semiconductors to 20%.
Key Digital Technologies Partnership
The Council has given its green light to a European joint undertaking on key digital technologies. This will involve a partnership between the European Union, Member States, and/or industry. Once set up, new calls for proposals will be launched, to select and finance research and innovation projects according to their respective objectives.
The key digital technologies partnership will focus on electronic components. This includes the design, manufacture of such components, and their integration into systems. It aims to support the digital transformation of the economy and society and help progress towards the European Green Deal. It will also support research and innovation for next-generation microprocessors, increasing Europe's competitiveness and technological sovereignty in this area.
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Big Picture
EU investment in high performance computing and computing technologies will enable Europe to lead the way in supercomputing in the Digital Decade.
Dig deeper
The proposed European Chips Act will boost Europe’s technological sovereignty, competitiveness, resilience and contribute to the digital and green transitions.
The Alliance on Processors and Semiconductor Technologies brings together key actors to design and produce microelectronics chips.
See Also
Destination Earth (DestinE) and its development of digital earth twins are key to predicting the effects and building resilience to climate-change.
We are on the verge of a new photonics era, and the European Commission is working to ensure citizens and businesses enjoy the full benefits of this technology.
To unlock the transformative power of quantum, the EU should develop a solid industrial base that builds on its tradition of excellence in quantum research.
High performance computing refers to computing systems with extremely high computational power that are able to solve hugely complex and demanding problems.