EU Launches €2.5 Billion NanoIC Semiconductor Pilot Line

The European Commission launched NanoIC on February 9, 2026, a €2.5 billion semiconductor pilot line located at the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (Imec) in Leuven, Belgium. As the largest of five pilot lines established under the EU Chips Act, the facility is the first in Europe to deploy advanced extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography technology to manufacture chips beyond 2 nanometers.

The project is funded by €700 million from the EU, €700 million from national and regional governments—including €750 million from the Belgian Flanders region—and the remaining balance from industry partners such as ASML Holding. NanoIC serves as an open facility for startups, SMEs, and researchers to prototype system-on-chip technologies for artificial intelligence, 6G, healthcare, and autonomous systems, bridging the gap between laboratory research and industrial production.

During the inauguration, officials emphasized that global powers are dependent on European chipmaking technology, presenting this as strategic leverage to counter Europe's own reliance on U.S. and Asian supply chains. To further strengthen the sector, the European Commission is preparing a second Chips Act scheduled for release at the end of March. The project is part of the broader Chips for Europe initiative, which involves five pilot lines with a combined investment of €3.7 billion.