On Friday, the Slovak Chips Competence Centre was officially opened at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology of the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava. The centre aims to bring a revolution to the Slovak semiconductor industry. At a time when chips determine the future of industry, defence, healthcare, and mobility, the establishment of such a centre is a strategic step for Slovakia.
“The founding of the Slovak Chips Competence Centre is proof that Slovakia does not want to stand aside, but to be an active part of the European semiconductor elite,” said Ján Hrinko, State Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic.
The Slovak Chips Competence Centre is part of the Europe-wide initiative Chips for Europe. The Slovak project was also evaluated as the best in all of Europe. Its goal is to expand Slovakia’s technological capacities, strengthen the availability of education and training, support innovation, and provide domestic companies with access to modern research and infrastructure facilities. Thanks to this, Slovakia can actively participate in Europe’s chip race without falling behind.
“The opening of the Slovak Chips Competence Centre is an important milestone for the semiconductor industry in our country. For the first time, a space is being created that connects academia, research, and industry with the aim of developing semiconductor technologies directly in Slovakia,” said Michal Mičjan, Director of the Slovak Chips Competence Centre.
The centre was established as a consortium of four key partners: the SK CHIPS Association, the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, the Slovak Centre of Scientific and Technical Information (CVTI SR), and the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV).
"Slovakia cannot simply watch as the world changes – we must be an active part of it. By opening the Slovak Chips Competence Centre, we are clearly showing that we not only understand the challenges of the future but also have the courage and capability to be part of their solutions. I believe that thanks to this project, Slovakia will become a technological partner that brings innovations and solutions for the entire European area,” confirmed Vladimír Šimoňák, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic.
Funding for the first four years is secured from the European Chips for Europe initiative and the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic. The Slovak Chips Competence Centre is also becoming part of the European network of competence centres that collectively strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty and innovation capacity. These centres play a key role in supporting startups and small and medium-sized enterprises in developing new semiconductor solutions, providing access to infrastructure as well as expert training and consulting.
One of the centre’s main tasks will be the preparation of qualified professionals for the semiconductor sector. The Slovak Chips Competence Centre will focus on expanding and improving education in microelectronics, deepening cooperation between secondary schools, universities, and private companies, and supporting young talent while attracting new students to chip-related fields. In education, the centre will closely collaborate with other technical universities in Slovakia.
We want the Slovak Chips Competence Centre to be a place where young people learn on modern equipment, work on real projects, and gain experience that prepares them for careers in one of the most promising fields of the future,” added Hrinko.
“Slovakia needs more talent, more innovation, and stronger cooperation. Our country has a unique opportunity to build on its industrial tradition and become part of the new European technological landscape,” added Michal Mičjan.
Slovak Chips Competence Centre
The Slovak Chips Competence Centre is a project that forms part of the Europe-wide initiative Chips for Europe. Its goal is to build a strong and competitive ecosystem for Slovakia’s semiconductor industry with a focus on advanced chip-packaging technologies. It connects research, development, education, and industry with the aim of strengthening the country’s technological self-sufficiency. The centre is based at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology of the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava. It was founded as a consortium of four key partners: the SK CHIPS Association, the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, the Slovak Centre of Scientific and Technical Information (CVTI SR), and the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV).
