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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

- - Core Objective: Develop advanced, energy-efficient AI chip prototypes (reaching Technology Readiness Levels 6-7) specifically for edge AI applications. The aim is to achieve industrial scaling, contribute to Europe's digital transformation, and support its sustainability goals. - Target Recipient Type and Size: Not explicitly defined in the provided text, but based on the objective (AI chip development, leveraging RTOs and pilot lines for industrial scaling), typical recipients would likely include organizations involved in advanced research and development, such as SMEs, ENTERPRISEs, UNIVERSITY research departments, and OTHER (Research and Technology Organizations - RTOs). - SECTOR-SPECIFIC (primarily technology, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, electronics). - Geographic Scope: European Union member states, as the grant explicitly mentions leveraging infrastructures 'within the Union'. - Key Filtering Criteria: Focus on AI chip development, TRL 6-7, ultra-low power consumption, real-time inference, potential for industrial scaling, and the mandatory use of EU state-of-the-art infrastructures like Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs) and Pilot Lines. - Grant Frequency and Program Context: This appears to be a recurring call, given the '2025' in the identifier and the '2021-2027' program period. It's part of the 'Chips JU Workprogramme', likely under the broader 'Chips for Europe Initiative', focusing on 'DIGITAL JU Simple Grants'.

Financial Structure

Total Budget for the Call (2025): 20000000.0 EUR
Minimum Grant Amount per Project: 1000000.0 EUR
Maximum Grant Amount per Project: 5000000.0 EUR
Currency: EUR (Euro)
Eligible Costs: Details on eligible and ineligible costs are referenced in general legal and financial set-up documents and the 'Annotated Model Grant Agreement (AGA)', but are not explicitly detailed in the provided text.
Matching Fund Requirements: Not specified in the provided information.
Co-financing Requirements: Not specified in the provided information.
Financial Reporting and Audit: 'Financial reporting requirements' and 'Audit requirements' are typically part of the grant agreements, which are referenced but not detailed here.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Eligibility

Organization Types: While not explicitly listed, expected eligible organizations would include:
Technology companies (SMEs, Enterprises) involved in semiconductor or AI hardware development.
Research and Technology Organizations (RTOs).
Universities and academic institutions with relevant research capabilities.
Geographic Location: Applicants must be established in one of the European Union member states, as the project requires leveraging infrastructures 'within the Union'. Eligible countries are: AT, BE, BG, HR, CY, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, HU, IE, IT, LV, LT, LU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SI, ES, SE.

Technical Requirements

Project Focus: Proposals must target the development of AI chip prototypes.
Technology Readiness Level (TRL): Prototypes must reach TRL 6-7.
Specific Technologies: Projects must integrate cutting-edge technologies such as non-volatile memories, neuromorphic computing, 3D heterogeneous integration, and photonic connectivity.
Infrastructure Use: Projects are expected to leverage advanced, state-of-the-art infrastructures with fabrication and testing capabilities available within the Union, specifically mentioning the Testing and Experimentation Facility (TEF) for Edge AI hardware (PREVAIL project) and Pilot Lines, including those of the Chips for Europe Initiative.

General Eligibility Conditions

Other Conditions: Refer to 'Appendix 6v4 of the Chips JU Workprogramme' for detailed conditions, including 'Eligible Countries' and 'Other Eligible Conditions'. The provided text does not specify these details directly.
Capacity Requirements: 'Financial and operational capacity and exclusion' criteria are also detailed in 'Appendix 6v4', which is not provided here.

Application Process

Application Deadlines and Timeline

Submission Window Opens: 2025-07-08
Application Deadline: 2025-09-17 00:00:00+00:00 (UTC)
Submission Procedure: Single-stage application process.

Required Documentation and Materials

Proposal Format: Proposals must adhere to page limits and layout detailed in Part B of the Application Form.
Core Application Documents (referenced, details not provided):
Application form template Part B.
National funding table template.
Ownership declaration template.
Model Grant Agreements (MGA): Refer to DIGITAL Action Grant Budget-Based (DIGITAL-AG).
Reference Documents (referenced, details not provided):
Guide for Applicants.
Evaluation form.

Submission Process

Submission Platform: Electronic Submission Service via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
Accessing Submission: Click the submission button next to the action type and model grant agreement corresponding to your proposal on the call page.
Draft Proposals: Existing draft proposals can be accessed via the 'My Proposals' page in the 'My Area' section of the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Support and Assistance

Call-Specific Support: For questions directly related to this call, contact calls@chips-ju.europa.eu.
IT Helpdesk: For technical issues, forgotten passwords, access rights, or technical aspects of proposal submission, contact the IT helpdesk.
Online Manual: A step-by-step online guide covering Portal processes from proposal preparation and evaluation to reporting is available.

Evaluation Criteria

The explicit 'Award criteria, scoring and thresholds' are stated to be detailed in 'Appendix 6v4 of the Chips JU Workprogramme', which is not provided in this document. However, the 'Expected Outcome' section implicitly outlines the key factors that successful proposals are anticipated to deliver, which will form the basis of evaluation: Project Outcomes and Technical Excellence

Prototype Development: The project must successfully deliver AI chip prototypes.
Technology Readiness Level (TRL): Prototypes must reach TRL 6-7, indicating a high level of development and testing in relevant environments.
Integration of Cutting-Edge Technologies: Evaluation will likely assess the effective integration of specific advanced technologies, including:
Non-volatile memories.
Neuromorphic computing.
3D heterogeneous integration.
Photonic connectivity.
Real-World Testing: Prototypes must be tested under real-world conditions.
Industrial Scaling Potential: The prototypes should demonstrate clear potential for industrial scaling, indicating commercial viability and market relevance.
Leveraging EU Infrastructures: The proposal's ability to effectively utilize and leverage advanced state-of-the-art fabrication and testing infrastructures within the European Union, such as the TEF for Edge AI hardware (PREVAIL project) and Pilot Lines (including those from the Chips for Europe Initiative), will be a key factor.

Functional and Performance Requirements

Robust AI Capabilities: Prototypes must demonstrate robust AI capabilities, specifically:
Real-time inference.
On-device learning.
Adaptive decision-making.
Edge AI Enablement: The chips must enable edge AI systems to process data locally, make decisions, and adapt to changing environments without relying on cloud infrastructure.
Ultra-Low Power Consumption: A critical criterion is achieving ultra-low power consumption, ensuring energy-efficient AI operations, especially for battery-powered devices in power-constrained edge environments.
Performance Balance: Evaluation will consider the balance between computing power and energy efficiency.

Impact and Strategic Alignment

Contribution to Europe's Digital Transformation: The developed technologies should clearly contribute to advancing Europe's digital agenda.
Alignment with Sustainability Goals: A strong emphasis is placed on how the project aligns with and contributes to broader sustainability objectives.
Next-Generation Capabilities: The ultimate goal is to drive the development of next-generation edge AI chips that combine high performance with ultra-low power consumption.
Application Relevance: The relevance and potential impact of the chips in target application fields such as mobile communication networks (e.g., 6G), autonomous systems, industrial automation, and healthcare will be assessed.
Security: The development of highly secure AI chips is an implicit expectation.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance

European Regulations: Compliance with the 'DEP Regulation 2021/964' and 'EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509' is required.
Legal Entity Validation: Adherence to 'Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment' is necessary.
Model Grant Agreement: Compliance with the terms outlined in the 'EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement' is expected.

Technical and Operational Requirements

Technology Readiness Levels: Projects must specifically target TRL 6-7, implying robust prototyping and testing in relevant operational environments.
Infrastructure Utilization: Mandatory leveraging of state-of-the-art EU infrastructures, specifically the Testing and Experimentation Facility (TEF) for Edge AI hardware (PREVAIL project) and Pilot Lines.
Energy Efficiency: A key technical requirement is the achievement of ultra-low power consumption for AI operations in power-constrained edge environments.

Strategic and Impact Considerations

Digital Transformation: Projects should contribute significantly to Europe's digital transformation.
Sustainability Goals: Alignment with and contribution to European sustainability goals is a core expectation.
Security: The development of highly secure AI chips is highlighted.

General Requirements

Data Protection and Privacy: While not explicitly detailed, compliance with relevant data protection and privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR in the EU) is implied for all EU-funded projects.
Ethical Standards: Adherence to ethical standards pertinent to AI and technology development is implicitly required.
Intellectual Property (IP) Policies: The Model Grant Agreements typically contain clauses regarding intellectual property rights; applicants should consult these for specific details.
Risk Management: While not explicitly detailed, effective risk management practices for project implementation are generally expected.

Special Considerations

Focus on Edge AI: The grant specifically targets edge AI chips, which process data locally, reducing latency and reliance on cloud infrastructure.
Application Areas: The developed chips should have relevance for critical applications such as 6G mobile communication networks, autonomous systems, industrial automation, and healthcare.

Grant Details