The microelectronics pilot lines project includes European funds amounting to 180 million euros, plus further state and private funding, bringing the total to approximately 360 million euros, of which 212 for the Catania plant. Thus the MIT in a note, adding that the construction of the research center with the Cnr, the other Italian and European partners and the companies should begin in 2025, following the formalization of the contracts.
“The Pilot Lines are real research hotbeds for advanced microchips, institutionalized by the European Chips Act to ensure the maintenance of Europe’s technological and competitive advantage. To this end, the European Union promotes the strengthening and creation of these structures within the Union through tenders for a total value of 1.67 billion euros, which will double to approximately 3.3 billion euros with the involvement of funding from the Member States”, explains the ministry. The Italian-led project was positively evaluated by the European chips Joint Undertaking together with those promoted by CEA leti (France), Fraunhofer (Germany) and IMEC (Belgium), placing Italy and its research centers in a very small group of leading institutions in the field of microelectronics.
“The green light from the community bodies of the first four pilot lines promoted in the chips Act, including that of Catania, confirms the Etna industrial district among the leading industrial areas in the Italian nation and on the European continent in innovation and high technology projects. another objective achieved for which we express gratitude to Prime Minister Meloni and Minister Urso who once again confirm the extraordinary interest in the development of production activities with high technological content for Sicily and Catania, projected into the most advanced frontier of scientific research, in a perspective of institutional partnership of which we are proud”. The mayor of Catania Enrico Trantino commented.
