
Bulgaria Launches IC Centre
Bulgaria has launched a Centre of Competence in the Field of Integrated Circuits at the Technical University of Sofia, the Ministry of Innovation and Growth announced Monday. The Centre is part of the EU's Chips for Europe Initiative, supported by the EU Chips Act and the Digital Europe Programme, CE Report quotes BTA
The Centre aims to advance microelectronics by providing access to design platforms, pilot lines, simulation tools, and training. It will also support startups and SMEs with mentorship, financing, and resources, while fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and the public sector.
Deputy Ministers Georgi Angelov and Martin Danovski attended the opening. Angelov noted that each EU member state hosts a similar centre, with Bulgaria’s standing out due to its international partnerships.
Key Bulgarian academic partners include several universities and institutes, alongside international collaborators such as Imec (Belgium) and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Germany). The initiative aligns with Bulgaria’s Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization, focusing on IC design, mechatronics, and enclosure manufacturing.