The project "Chips Centre of Competence Bulgaria (C3BG)" marks the beginning of the most ambitious Bulgarian initiative in micro- and nanoelectronics, supported by ChipsJU (Chips Joint Undertaking). Its aim is to strengthen Bulgaria's participation in the development of the European semiconductor industry by establishing a national centre of competence. The Centre is part of the "Chips for Europe" initiative, supported by the European Chips Act and the Digital Europe Programme.
The project's objectives are to ensure access to innovative infrastructures – design platforms, pilot production lines, and simulation environments. The main users of the Centre's services will be small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups, research and technology organizations, academic institutions at the regional, national, and European levels, as well as large enterprises.
Centres of competence will provide access to technical expertise and experimentation in the field of integrated circuits. Services may include facilitating access to pilot lines, providing training and skills development, technology transfer, and support in finding investors.
Through this ambitious Bulgarian initiative in micro- and nanoelectronics, sustainable links will be created between science, industry, and the public sector following the "triple helix" model, as well as opportunities for specialization in key areas: integrated circuit design, MEMS, new materials, reliability and failure analysis, and modern packaging methods. Through European cooperation, the "C3BG" Centre will play a key role in building a sustainable and competitive semiconductor sector in Bulgaria and Europe.
The Centre will bring together leading Bulgarian academic and scientific institutions – the Technical University – Sofia, which is also the project coordinator, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", TU – Gabrovo, TU – Varna, Ruse University "Angel Kanchev", the Institute of Electronics, and the Institute of Solid State Physics of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Industrial partners include Sofia Tech Park, the Association for Scientific Research and Development – ASRD, and international organizations such as imec–Belgium and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf–Germany.
At the opening of the introductory meeting, the Rector of TU – Sofia, Prof. Dr. Georgi Venkov, stated that there are already 30 such centres in several European countries, and the goal is to create a sustainable and innovative ecosystem in the field of microelectronics. The Deputy Minister of Innovation and Growth, Prof. Dr. Eng. Georgi Angelov, noted that specialists in the field of microelectronics will be trained at the Centre of Competence in the Field of Integrated Circuits – one of the top-level priorities for the country.
The event was attended by Martin Danovski, Deputy Minister of Innovation and Growth, Corresponding Member Evelina Slavcheva, President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Dr. Maria Hristova, CEO of Invest Sofia, Col. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Borislav Genov, Director of the Institute of Defense, Corresponding Member Prof. Georgi Todorov, Chairman of the General Assembly of TU - Sofia and Head of the National Center for Mechatronics and Clean Technologies – Campus "Student City", the Deputy Rectors of TU - Sofia, Prof. Dr. Eng. Ivo Iliev, Dean of the Faculty of Electronic Engineering and Technologies, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eng. Dimitar Nikolov, Project Coordinator, and representatives of the participating organizations.
