Description

This topic aims to strengthen Europe's semiconductor workforce by establishing a Pilot Federation of Vocational Education and Training (VET) providers focused on semiconductor technologies. The initiative seeks to bridge the growing skills gap by coordinating education, training, qualification and certification activities across Europe while promoting lifelong learning, reskilling and upskilling of the current workforce.

The Pilot Federation will create a scalable European network of VET providers that aligns training provision with industry needs, facilitates cross-border recognition of qualifications, and helps attract new talent into the semiconductor sector. Projects are expected to work closely with industry, the Industrial Alliance on Processors and Semiconductor Technologies (particularly its Working Group on Skills), and the network of Chips Competence Centres to ensure training responds to regional and national workforce needs.

Funding Amount

Total indicative budget

• EUR 10 million.

Expected EU contribution per project

• Approximately EUR 10 million, although proposals requesting different amounts may be submitted if appropriately justified.

The topic is co-funded with National Funding Authorities (NFA).

Submission Deadlines

• Call launch: 7 July 2026
• Submission deadline (Full Proposal): 24 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time
• This is a one-stage call.

Submission Conditions

• Simple Grant (SG) action.
• One-stage submission (Full Proposal only).
• Co-funded with National Funding Authorities.
• Projects should have an expected duration of at least five years.
• Applicants must define clear KPIs to measure the project's impact.
• The maximum EU contribution per partner is 40% of the total EU funding.
• Standard Digital Europe Programme admissibility, eligibility and evaluation conditions apply, together with the Chips Joint Undertaking evaluation procedures.
• Proposal page limits are:
  • Relevance: 20 pages
  • Implementation: 40 pages
  • Impact: 20 pages.

Eligible Types of Businesses

The call is open to organisations eligible under the Digital Europe Programme and Chips Joint Undertaking rules, including:

• Vocational Education and Training (VET) providers;
• Universities;
• Higher education institutions;
• Research institutes;
• Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs);
• SMEs;
• Large enterprises;
• Semiconductor companies;
• Industry associations;
• Public authorities;
• Training providers;
• Skills organisations;
• Other eligible legal entities.

Projects are expected to build partnerships between education providers, industry and public stakeholders to establish a coordinated European semiconductor skills ecosystem.

Eligible Countries

Participation follows the eligibility rules of the Digital Europe Programme.

Eligible entities include organisations established in:

• EU Member States;
• EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway).

Legal entities established in eligible countries but controlled by third countries may participate only if they provide the required security guarantees protecting the essential security interests of the EU and its Member States. Additional participation restrictions under Article 12(6) of the Digital Europe Programme apply.