Reinforcing skills in semiconductors

Overview

Objectives

All proposals must contribute to increasing the visibility and the attractiveness of semiconductors related studies and jobs, and further apply for one of the two actions I) Higher Education Network or II) Vocational Training Network.

Activities/actions supported

Consortia are expected to deliver:

• Communication campaigns aimed at the public to explain the impact of semiconductors in daily life and their crucial role in supporting innovation for the benefit of citizens, society, and environment.
• Events aimed at secondary school students, including first classes, introducing basics of chips and semiconductors, as well as knowledge of educational offers, prospective careers, business environment, and future employment conditions.
• Events, still aimed at secondary school students, like bootcamps, summer/winter schools, hands-on activities at business sites, providing practical experiences like i.e., open-access toolkit, highlighting how semiconductor technologies shape the future and enable innovation.
• Actions to address gender imbalance including, for example, ambassador programmes, career orientation, scholarship programmes, collaboration with STEMinist initiatives.
• Training for secondary school teachers to highlight links between STEM disciplines and the semiconductors sector, and the STEM disciplines prospective impact in daily life activities and semiconductors-based applications.

Aside from the previous listed activities, proposals must choose between one of the two actions described in the call: I) Higher Education Network or II) Vocational Training Network. More details are available in the text of the call (see link below).

Anticipated outcomes

Under the Higher Education Network, anticipated outcomes include:

• Definition of the required curricula using the ECTS system with capacity for around 500 students/year across at least 5 Member States, for BSc and MSc levels.
• A scholarship programme for selected semiconductors students enrolled in the common curriculum at BSc and MSc levels.
• On-the-job experiences for undergraduate students in companies involved in the consortium.
• Upgrade of laboratories used for the teaching activities delivered by the project.
• Communication initiatives toward the public, including social media.
• Local or regional programmes led by the industrial partner(s) to target secondary school students, including for example a Summer/Winter School based on practical learning activities, introductory seminars, visit to facilities etc.

Under the Vocational Training Network, anticipated outcomes include:

• Bootcamps, workshops and career days dedicated to semiconductors, addressing start-ups and SMEs needs, at least one of them focusing on diversity and inclusivity.
• Definition of VET curricula in semiconductors and delivery of the relevant training courses with capacity for around 1000 technicians involving at least 20 start-ups and SMEs across at least 5 Member States.

Institution providing the funding

European Commission

Size of funding

EUR 10.000.000

Conditions

Overview of eligibility criteria

To be eligible, applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must be legal entities (public or private bodies) and be established in one of the eligible countries (i.e.: EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)); listed EEA countries and countries associated to the Digital Europe Programme (associated countries) or countries which are in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement and where the agreement enters into force before grant signature).

Furthermore, proposals must be submitted by a consortium composed of a minimum 5 applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from 5 different eligible countries.The consortium should demonstrate a good balance between semiconductors businesses and higher education institutions or VET providers in Europe. Research and technology organisations, research centres or foundations, and any other institution active in the semiconductors sector can be part of the consortium. Moreover, the consortium should include organisations able to deliver communication events toward public and secondary schools, and all members must provide evidence of complementarity of their roles for the delivery of the actions requested by the call.

Overview of award criteria

The award criteria are the following:

• Relevance (5 points)
• Implementation (5 points)
• Impact (5 points)

Maximum points: 15 points. Overall threshold: 10 points.

Procedures

Application procedures

In order to be considered, proposals must:

• Be submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal using the forms provided.
• Proposals must be complete and contain all parts and mandatory annexes and supporting documents.

More information is available in the text of the call (see link below).

Application support available

For help related to this call, please use the contact form available here: https://european-union.europa.eu/contact-eu/write-us_en

Useful links

Link to funding opportunity

Link to the programme for more info