The project C3BG – Chips Centre of Competence Bulgaria officially entered the implementation phase with a kick-off meeting held at the Technical University – Sofia, which brought together leading academic institutions, research organizations, industrial partners, clusters, and international organizations from Bulgaria and Europe.
The launch of the project follows the successful signing of the Grant Agreement with the Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU) within the framework of EU Chips Act and the receipt of the initial advance funding. C3BG aims to establish a national competence center in the field of integrated circuits, supporting Bulgaria's integration into the European semiconductor value chain and enhancing the country's technological competitiveness.
The project is coordinated by the Technical University – Sofia and brings together a broad consortium of partners, including Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", Technical University – Varna, Technical University – Gabrovo, Ruse University "Angel Kanchev", Sofia Tech Park, Research, Development and Innovation Consortium (R&D&I Consortium), National Center for Mechatronics and Clean Technologies (NCMCT), as well as the Institute of Electronics and the Institute of Solid State Physics of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
Leading industrial and cluster partners are also joining the consortium, such as the Microelectronics and Industrial Electronic Systems Cluster (CMIES) with its leading members Melexis Bulgaria, GlobalFoundries Bulgaria, Renesas Design Bulgaria EOOD, FACIT OOD, Artificial Intelligence Bulgaria Cluster, Biotechnology and Health Cluster Bulgaria, Center for Research and Analysis and Barin Sports - a leading Bulgarian innovative company, contributing applied technological solutions and industrial expertise to the C3BG ecosystem, as well as key international partners such as imec (Belgium) and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Germany). This diversity of participants ensures a strong link between science, industry, innovation, and public policies.
The C3BG project aims to provide access to modern infrastructure – design platforms and pilot production lines, as well as to develop training and retraining programs in the field of microelectronics. At the same time, targeted support will be provided to small and medium-sized enterprises and startups through mentoring, expert services, and access to resources and services, with a focus on key technological areas such as integrated circuit design, MEMS, new materials, reliability analysis, and modern chip packaging methods.
By bringing together the academic community, industry, clusters, and public institutions, C3BG is positioned as a strategic initiative for the development of a sustainable, competitive, and future-oriented semiconductor ecosystem in Bulgaria, in full compliance with European priorities and the goals of EU Chips Act.
