The chip industry is important for Finland to ensure competitiveness. We need the latest technology and expertise to develop, manufacture and utilise critical technology. Finland already has a strong global position in specialised microelectronics, such as RF technology, MEMS, integrated photonics, material and process development, integration technologies and superconducting quantum technology. Our participation in European microelectronics pilot lines opens up global growth opportunities for Finnish businesses.
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- The Finnish chip ecosystem is robust and composed of semiconductors, photonics, and quantum technology sectors, supported by national investment and partnerships with key industrial groups, aiming to triple revenue and job creation over the next decade.
- Participation in European pilot lines facilitates Finland's integration into European chip supply chains, supported by VTT's infrastructure in Micronova and Kvanttinova, enabling the development of advanced processing capabilities crucial for innovation in specialised areas like microelectronics, integrated photonics and quantum technologies.
- Finland's expertise in photonics and quantum technology positions it as a global leader with continued development supported by collaborations like PIXEurope and coordinated efforts in European superconducting quantum technology pilot lines, promoting significant national economic benefits and industrial growth.
This summary is written by AI and checked by a human.
Chip technology is deep technology in every sense. The technology and its operating principles are highly advanced, and chip factories are high-tech environments as well. The most complex chip patterning devices consist of over 40,000 parts, and their development has taken decades and billions of euros. The development and eventual commercialisation of these devices is the result of numerous visions, inventions, innovations, ambitions, working hours and funds.
The resilient Finnish chip ecosystem
Finnish national investment in the chip industry is significant, enabling development and growth in the sector and making the Finnish chip industry part of European value chains.
By global standards, the Finnish chip ecosystem is small but strong and resilient. The chip ecosystem consists of three sectors: semiconductors, photonics and quantum technology. In Finland, three industrial cooperation groups are central to the chip industry and critical technology: Semiconductor Branch Group at Technology Industries of Finland for semiconductors, Photonics Finland for photonics and BusinessQ for quantum technology. These share many similarities, despite their differences. Notably, many of the companies in these ecosystems utilise, develop or sell chips or equipment and materials used in chip manufacturing.
Revenue and the number of jobs can be tripled
The Semiconductor Branch Group at Technology Industries of Finland recently published the “Chips from the North” growth strategy that presents a clear view of the strengths and potential of the Finnish semiconductor sector: revenue and the number of jobs can be tripled in ten years.
The sector is considered important for ensuring the competitiveness of Finland as a whole, which is why we need expertise in developing and utilising critical technology. European chip supply chains are needed to ensure of the availability of advanced chips. As many chip suppliers are located in Asia and America, the changed geopolitical situation presents new business and growth opportunities for Finnish companies.
In the semiconductor sector, Finland’s strengths lie in specialised microelectronics: RF technologies, new memory devices and materials, MEMS, power semiconductors, integrated photonics, quantum technologies and microfabrication integration technologies that enable manufacturing modules of increasing complexity and the development and implementation of new types of miniaturised technological solutions. Playing to our strengths, we have the potential for globally significant contribution to the development of selected sectors.
Finland participates in four European pilot lines
We are currently significantly improving the capability to manufacture specialised chips in Finland with funding from the EU, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and Business Finland through four European Chips JU pilot lines: FAMES, APECS, NanoIC and PIXEurope. New processing capabilities will be acquired for Finland, and old manufacturing equipment are upgraded. The investment in pilot lines is exceptional and significant for Finland, and it is expected to improve the competitiveness of Finland and provide access to critical technology over the long term. In addition, the investment firmly anchors us in the European chip ecosystem and opens doors to key negotiating tables and value chains, which supports the growth of Finnish companies in European markets and beyond.
Processes are developed in Micronova and soon in Kvanttinova
The new manufacturing equipment and processing capabilities will be located in VTT premises in Micronova and the future Kvanttinova hub in Otaniemi. Businesses and the ecosystem will be able to utilise new and upgraded processing capabilities as well as existing VTT processing capabilities in the shared Micronova cleanroom. The new capabilities enable businesses to develop new products and services and create growth in Finland. At the same time, businesses can leverage the technologies of the European pilot lines more extensively through VTT, which further strengthens the processing capabilities available in Finland, including capabilities in processor technologies.
New semiconductor manufacturing equipment and processing capabilities acquired in the framework of FAMES, APECS and NanoIC allow the development of specialised chips, especially for applications related to data storage and data transfer, particularly for new memory technologies, RF, piezo-MEMS, integrated photonics and integration technology.
Photonics from communication to sensors
Finland is a strong actor in photonics, and Photonics Finland drives the ecosystem commendably. Finland has integrated photonics manufacturing technology both at VTT and the University of Tampere, a participant in the Wide Band Gap pilot line. With the support of PIXEurope pilot funding, VTT is investing in new capabilities that enable the fabrication of more complex photonics chips and hybrid integration. Together with compound semiconductor expertise at the University of Tampere, this results in a combination of technologies that can be utilised in many applications ranging from telecommunications to sensors. The Finnish Chip Competence Centre FiCCC helps Finnish companies in applying the new chip technologies to applications.
Quantum technology market leaders in Finland today
Finland has a long tradition of research and development of superconducting quantum technology. Global market leaders in the field operate in Finland today, thanks to persistent research and development. Quantum chip processing technology is still in its infancy and requires committed development to make it reproducible and reliable. European quantum pilot lines launched for this purpose are currently in preparation.
VTT coordinates the European superconducting quantum technology pilot line and participates in other quantum technology pilot lines. In other words, we are at the forefront of global development of this technology. Quantum technology is a critical technology that is becoming increasingly important in new chips and applications.
Finnish participation in European pilot lines is solid and significant as a national investment. We often hear that we deliver beyond our size in microelectronics and pilot lines – as expected for a pioneer nation of technological development.
Our presence in the European pilot lines will make us part of the European chip supply chains. This opens up new business and growth opportunities for Finnish companies and lays the foundation for the competitiveness and growth of the Finnish national economy.
