Skills Hubs of Excellence

• July 24, 2026
• admin

This topic is part of the Chips for Europe Initiative under the Digital Europe Programme and addresses Europe’s structural shortage of skilled professionals in the semiconductor sector. It responds to the limited availability of specialised education and training in advanced and emerging semiconductor technologies, as well as insufficient infrastructure for education and lifelong learning. The topic aims to establish high-quality, comprehensive, structured, and sustainable programmes covering the semiconductor value chain, from STEM and vocational education to university, doctoral and post-doctoral levels, while also supporting the re-skilling and up-skilling of the existing workforce. The initiative is intended to strengthen Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem, strategic autonomy, and long-term competitiveness.

Topics

Applicants must develop Skills Hubs of Excellence that support the semiconductor talent pipeline through:

• Industry-relevant education and training covering advanced and emerging semiconductor technologies, from STEM and vocational education to university, doctoral and post-doctoral levels.

• Re-skilling and up-skilling programmes addressing the evolving needs of the semiconductor workforce.

• High-quality, structured and sustainable training programmes linked to the semiconductor value chain and the needs of European industry.

• Collaboration with key Chips Act initiatives, including Design Platforms, Pilot Lines and Chips Competence Centres, to strengthen the connection between training and the European semiconductor ecosystem.

• A long-term approach to skills development, with proposals expected to plan activities over at least 5 years.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Applicants must be established in Member States or DEP-Associated countries

2. The maximum EU contribution per partner is limited to 40% of the total EU funding.

Funding

• Budget per project: up to 4 million EUR

• Total topic budget: 20 million EUR

• Funding mode: Co-funded with the National Funding Authority

• Funding rate: 50%

Timeline

The deadline to submit applications is set to 24 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time.