Strengthening the fabless Start-up and SME ecosystem in Europe (CSA)
Horizon Europe Cluster 4: Achieving open strategic autonomy in digital and emerging enabling technologies
Funding Amount
€1.0M - €1.0M
Deadline
02/10/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution
Trusted by
What is the Strengthening the fabless Start-up and SME ecosystem in Europe (CSA) Call?
Grant Description
Coordination and Support Action to establish a sustainable European fabless semiconductor ecosystem. It will create an active network or industry association representing fabless start-ups, SMEs and mid-caps; foster dialogue and advocacy with public authorities, industrial actors and EU Chips initiatives; develop a one-stop-shop platform for funding, policy and technology updates; organize events and provide targeted acceleration services focusing on advanced semiconductor technologies.
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
• A sustainable, active European industry association or network effectively representing the interests of fabless startups, SMEs and mid-caps.
• A comprehensive, multi-stakeholder framework enabling continuous dialogue and advocacy between fabless SMEs, public authorities, policymakers and key industrial actors.
• A one-stop-shop digital platform providing easy access to up-to-date calls and funding information, policy and regulatory developments, technological news and investment opportunities.
• Active participation and representation of fabless SMEs in high-profile EU forums, conferences and policy-making events, enhancing their influence in the semiconductor ecosystem.
• Tailored acceleration and scaling services for fabless startups and SMEs, with emphasis on strategic technology areas (AI, low-power computing, autonomous driving, integrated photonics, HPC, quantum, communications).
• Strengthened partnerships and joint innovation projects across sectors, driving collective growth, rapid technological advancement and improved European strategic autonomy in semiconductors.
• A comprehensive, multi-stakeholder framework enabling continuous dialogue and advocacy between fabless SMEs, public authorities, policymakers and key industrial actors.
• A one-stop-shop digital platform providing easy access to up-to-date calls and funding information, policy and regulatory developments, technological news and investment opportunities.
• Active participation and representation of fabless SMEs in high-profile EU forums, conferences and policy-making events, enhancing their influence in the semiconductor ecosystem.
• Tailored acceleration and scaling services for fabless startups and SMEs, with emphasis on strategic technology areas (AI, low-power computing, autonomous driving, integrated photonics, HPC, quantum, communications).
• Strengthened partnerships and joint innovation projects across sectors, driving collective growth, rapid technological advancement and improved European strategic autonomy in semiconductors.
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
• Target beneficiaries: European fabless semiconductor start-ups, SMEs and small mid-caps.
• Technology focus: advanced chip design for AI, HPC, quantum, data processing, communications, automotive applications, low-power computing, autonomous driving, integrated photonics, sensing and power electronics.
• Strategic objectives: raise Europe’s fabless market share (currently <1%), strengthen strategic autonomy and economic security, accelerate innovation, job creation and sustainable growth.
• Core actions: form a representative organization or association; facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogue and advocacy; develop a central information platform; organize ecosystem events; deliver acceleration/scaling services; promote cross-sector networking.
• Alignment: must interlink with Chips for Europe Initiative (Chips Joint Undertaking, IPCEIs), EU policy-making processes and related support actions in other WPs (Destination 4 of WP2025: Achieving open strategic autonomy in digital and emerging enabling technologies).
• Governance: action must be led and coordinated by established European fabless start-up and SME stakeholder bodies.
• Technology focus: advanced chip design for AI, HPC, quantum, data processing, communications, automotive applications, low-power computing, autonomous driving, integrated photonics, sensing and power electronics.
• Strategic objectives: raise Europe’s fabless market share (currently <1%), strengthen strategic autonomy and economic security, accelerate innovation, job creation and sustainable growth.
• Core actions: form a representative organization or association; facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogue and advocacy; develop a central information platform; organize ecosystem events; deliver acceleration/scaling services; promote cross-sector networking.
• Alignment: must interlink with Chips for Europe Initiative (Chips Joint Undertaking, IPCEIs), EU policy-making processes and related support actions in other WPs (Destination 4 of WP2025: Achieving open strategic autonomy in digital and emerging enabling technologies).
• Governance: action must be led and coordinated by established European fabless start-up and SME stakeholder bodies.
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
• Funding scheme: Horizon Europe Coordination and Support Action (CSA), single-stage submission via Horizon-CSA Action Grant (budget-based).
• Submission deadline: 2 October 2025, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Indicative budget per project: EUR 1.8 million to 2.5 million.
• Page limits, layout and eligibility: as defined in Horizon Europe General Annexes (Annex A/E for page limits, Annex B for eligible countries, Annex C for capacity/exclusion, Annex D/F for evaluation, Annex G for legal/financial setup).
• Grant Agreement: use HE CSA Model Grant Agreement and HE Programme Guide.
• Evaluation: according to Horizon Europe standard CSA evaluation criteria and templates.
• Topic dependencies: applicants must consult the Destination 4 description and expected impacts in WP2025 (Digital, Industry and Space) and demonstrate coordination with Chips JU WP2024/2025 topics.
• Coordination: projects must liaise with the network of European Semiconductor Competence Centres and the Design Platform under the Chips for Europe Initiative.
• Submission deadline: 2 October 2025, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Indicative budget per project: EUR 1.8 million to 2.5 million.
• Page limits, layout and eligibility: as defined in Horizon Europe General Annexes (Annex A/E for page limits, Annex B for eligible countries, Annex C for capacity/exclusion, Annex D/F for evaluation, Annex G for legal/financial setup).
• Grant Agreement: use HE CSA Model Grant Agreement and HE Programme Guide.
• Evaluation: according to Horizon Europe standard CSA evaluation criteria and templates.
• Topic dependencies: applicants must consult the Destination 4 description and expected impacts in WP2025 (Digital, Industry and Space) and demonstrate coordination with Chips JU WP2024/2025 topics.
• Coordination: projects must liaise with the network of European Semiconductor Competence Centres and the Design Platform under the Chips for Europe Initiative.
Important dates
Open from: 10/06/2025
Deadline:02/10/2025
Application period has ended
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