NanoIC: România intră în elita europeană a semiconductorilor prin cel mai mare proiect pilot al UE

Bucharest, February 11, 2026 – RBJ (assembled by AI) – Officially launched in February 2026, NanoIC (also known under names associated with nanoIT/semiconductor initiatives under the Chips Act) represents the European Union’s most ambitious project in the semiconductor field, being a central component of the European Chips Act. With a total investment of 2.5 billion euros, this initiative marks a decisive step for Europe’s technological autonomy, with Romania among the key partners through the involvement of the academic and research environment.
What is the NanoIC Project?
NanoIC is the first European pilot facility to implement extreme ultraviolet lithography technologies for the manufacture of next-generation chips, using technologies over two nanometers (sub2nm). The project is coordinated by the IMEC center in Leuven (Belgium) and aims to accelerate the development of semiconductors essential for:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing.
Autonomous vehicles and smart mobility.
6G mobile technology.
Advanced healthcare systems.
The project is funded by a public-private partnership: €700 million from the EU, €700 million from national and regional governments, with the rest coming from industrial partners such as global leader ASML.
Romania’s involvement in NanoIC
Romania plays a strategic role in this European consortium through the Politehnica University of Bucharest (UNSTPB), represented by the Center for Surface Science and Nanotechnology (CSSNT).
Local coordination and objectives
Academic partnership: CSSNT-UNSTPB is an official partner in the NanoIC pilot line, alongside elite institutions from France (CEA-Leti), Germany (Fraunhofer), Finland (VTT) and Ireland (Tyndall National Institute).
Technical Contribution: Romania’s role is crucial in implementing 2nm technology by sharing design tools, design repositories and development kits (PDKs).
Project Director: At the national level, activities are coordinated by Prof. Dr. Marius Enăchescu from CSSNT-UNSTPB.
Integration into the National Microelectronics Strategy
Participation in NanoIC aligns with Romania’s broader efforts to become an industrial hub in the field:
National Platform for Semiconductor Technologies: Launched in December 2024, this platform benefits from an investment of 130 million euros from European funds for the construction of three state-of-the-art production lines in Romania.
National Ecosystem: The project brings together research institutes, top universities and innovative SMEs, with the support of industrial giants such as NXP, Bosch and Continental, which already collaborate with Romanian academia on microelectronics topics.
Impact and Strategic Importance
By engaging in NanoIC, Romania is not just a spectator to the digital revolution, but directly contributes to the EU’s goal of reaching a 20% share of global semiconductor production by 2030. This participation ensures access for Romanian specialists to the most advanced “System-on-Chip” chip design technologies below 2nm, strengthening the technological resilience of the country and the entire EU bloc.
The project is planned to run for 60 months, with a completion date set for December 31, 2028.