WBG Pilot Line project
Contact and Frequently Asked
The project strengthens Europe’s technological sovereignty in semiconductors, supporting the goal of doubling Europe’s global market share to 20% by 2030.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
The Wide-Bandgap (WBG) Pilot Line is a European research and innovation infrastructure dedicated to the development and industrialization of advanced semiconductors based on Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN). It bridges the gap between laboratory research and industrial-scale production, providing open access to universities, SMEs, and industry.
Wide-bandgap materials such as SiC and GaN enable devices to operate at higher voltages, temperatures, and frequencies compared to traditional silicon. This leads to more efficient, compact, and reliable power electronics, which are essential for electric mobility, renewable energy, data centers, and aerospace applications.
The WBG Pilot Line is coordinated by the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) through its Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems (CNR-IMM) in Catania. It is implemented by the Chip4Power consortium, which includes CNR, FBK, Fondazione Chips.IT, IU.NET, and additional partners from seven European countries.
The pilot line has a total budget of approximately €360 million, as part of the broader €3.7 billion Chips for Europe Initiative. Funding comes from the European Union, the Italian Government, the Sicilian Region, and participating member states, alongside contributions from industrial stakeholders.
The project strengthens Europe’s technological sovereignty in semiconductors, supporting the goal of doubling Europe’s global market share to 20% by 2030. It creates an open-access ecosystem that fosters innovation, accelerates technology transfer, supports SMEs and startups, and contributes to Europe’s energy transition and digital competitiveness.
Any questions you want to ask?
The WBG Pilot Line is a strategic initiative under the European Chips Act. Below you can find answers to the most common questions about its goals, technologies, funding, and impact.
In collaboration with 15 organizations from seven European countries, including leading research institutes such as CEA-LETI (France), Fraunhofer IISB (Germany), KTH and Chalmers (Sweden), Tampere University (Finland), and Polish research institutions.
