- By using these funds, ams Osram may create 400 new high-tech jobs
- New funding comes under an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI)
ams Osram aims to secure over €300 million (US$320 million) in funding from the German federal government and the Free State of Bavaria over five years. The amount will be used to enhance the company’s development and manufacturing capabilities in “next-generation optoelectronic semiconductor technologies” at its facilities in the central Bavarian city of Regensburg.
The new funding comes under an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) on Microelectronics and Communications Technologies (IPCEI ME/CT), announced last year in June. The euros will come partly from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and partly from the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy.
The IPCEI framework is designed to support projects in the burgeoning green technology and digital technology sectors, aligning with the European Union’s strategic objectives. In a press release announcing the funding, ams Osram CEO Aldo Kamper shared the significance of the company’s Regensburg facility, which focuses on developing innovative, energy-efficient products and production methods. These endeavours are aimed at advancing digitalisation and, in turn, contributing to the European Green Deal’s goals while bolstering Europe’s self-sufficiency in the semiconductor domain. This initiative represents a pivotal step towards fostering sustainability, technological advancement, and economic resilience within the EU over the next several years.
The company has also showcased interest towards R&D activities in “innovative optoelectronic semiconductors and their manufacturing processes.” The funds will be used to make new cleanroom and lab facilities and pilot lines. It is also expecting to create “400 new high-tech jobs” through the work covered by the funding.
ams Osram has highlighted several innovative applications as potential research and development focus areas. These include UV-C LEDs for disinfection, NIR emitters for automotive lidar, Industry 4.0 technologies, microLEDs, and the integration of artificial intelligence. These endeavours align with the company’s commitment to pioneering new advancements in response to evolving market trends.
