The UPC presents the PERTE CHIP Chair
New University Chair in Chips for Advanced Architectures and Photonic Systems to focus on training and attracting talent to strengthen scientific, design and production capacities of the chip and semiconductor industry in Catalonia
The UPC CHIP Chair, driven by the Strategic Project of Microelectronics and Semiconductors (PERTE Chip), promoted by the Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service, and financed with European Next Generation funds, was launched with the vision of boosting development of advanced research and the training and recruitment of talent in the field of chips and semiconductors
The new chair program will respond to the challenges of the semiconductor industry, promoting European competitiveness in this strategic sector. Its mission is to attract and train new talent, as well as develop innovative technologies that strengthen digital sovereignty in Europe. The chair is supported by prominent research centers such as the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS), the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO), both with links to the UPC, and 13 leading companies in technology and microelectronics.
The initiative will strengthen this technological sector, also offering educational programs at the undergraduate, master and doctoral level to train qualified professionals who will be able to tackle the new challenges of innovation, contribute to sustainable development and make Europe more competitive on an international scale. In parallel, it seeks to awaken technological vocations at an even earlier age through the Sidecar project, which will introduce technological concepts to primary and secondary school students.
The presentation of the chair took place at the Barcelona Technical School of Telecommunications Engineering (ETSETB), and was attended by the Secretary of State for Telecommunications, Antonio Hernando, and the rector of the UPC, Daniel Crespo. In addition, the Director ETSETB Alba Pagès, participated in the presentation, as did the director of the BSC-CNS, Mateo Valero; the director of the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO), Oriol Romero-Isart; the professor and director of the Chair, Antonio Rubio, and the director of Qualcomm Engineering, Jordi Ros, in representation of the companies linked to the Chair.
The Secretary of State for Telecommunications, Antonio Hernando, reaffirmed "the Government's commitment to the development of the semiconductor industry in Europe, with the collaboration of public universities and the companies that participate in the initiative" and also highlighted the importance of awakening vocations in this field from an early age.
The project is part of the PERTE CHIP state plan, which has been allocated more than 3.7 million euros from the Next Generation funds, plus an additional contribution of one million euros from the collaborating companies, who will work together with the UPC to promote innovations that will contribute to the digital transition.