Chip competence centres throughout the Nordic and Baltic areas have signed a brand new memorandum of understanding (MoU) that brings collectively Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and the three Baltic states in a coordinated push to strengthen analysis, expertise, and industrial capability.
The settlement was formalised throughout a gathering of Nordic chip centres and units out a shared imaginative and prescient to advance training, analysis, and industrial assist throughout borders.
The MoU marks a big step towards constructing a coordinated Northern European semiconductor ecosystem.
By aligning efforts and sharing experience, the taking part nations intention to extend their collective impression, enhance worldwide visibility, and reply extra successfully to provide chain and expertise challenges going through Europe’s chip trade.
Constructing on current Baltic cooperation
The Nordic settlement enhances earlier collaboration among the many Baltic states themselves.
Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia beforehand signed their very own MoU to consolidate regional efforts in microelectronics and semiconductor innovation.
That settlement centered on synchronising nationwide methods, pooling analysis capabilities, and accelerating innovation consistent with the targets of the European Chips Act.
Collectively, these frameworks create a layered mannequin of cooperation: robust nationwide ecosystems, strengthened by Baltic coordination, and now amplified via Nordic–Baltic collaboration.
The last word objective is to boost the area’s competitiveness within the international semiconductor market whereas contributing to Europe’s technological sovereignty.
Shared priorities: Innovation, expertise, and trade assist
On the coronary heart of the brand new MoU are three core areas of cooperation. First, the companions intention to foster innovation and lift the worldwide profile of Nordic and Baltic chip competence centres via joint initiatives and coordinated outreach.
Second, training and analysis growth might be strengthened by way of shared research programmes, enhanced information trade, and improved entry to analysis infrastructure. That is seen as essential to addressing Europe’s rising expertise hole in microelectronics and associated fields.
Third, the settlement locations robust emphasis on supporting startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). By facilitating entry to pilot manufacturing strains and superior analysis infrastructure – notably via the EU’s Chips Joint Undertaking programme – the centres intend to decrease boundaries to market entry and scale-up.
A rising semiconductor market within the Baltics
The timing of the settlement displays optimistic market dynamics within the area. The semiconductor sectors in Estonia and Lithuania are projected to develop by round 5% yearly between 2023 and 2028, growing mixed market worth from roughly €41m to €53m.
Latvia’s outlook is equally strong, with chip exports forecast to develop by about 6% per 12 months between 2021 and 2026.
These developments underline why chip competence centres have gotten more and more necessary as hubs connecting analysis, training, and trade.
Horizon Europe and a Baltic-Nordic technique
Trying forward, the Baltic companions plan to collectively apply for a Horizon Europe Coordination and Support Action (Horizon-CSA). The proposed challenge would map the regional semiconductor ecosystem and lay the groundwork for a unified Baltic-Nordic chip alliance.
Such a method would unlock future EU-funded tasks to strengthen analysis infrastructure and supply focused assist for startups and SMEs throughout Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
Latvia’s chip competence centre comes on-line
Latvia has already taken concrete steps on the nationwide stage. In March 2025, the Latvian Chip Competence Heart was established by Riga Technical College (RTU) in partnership with the College of Latvia (UL).
The centre builds on a 2022 nationwide memorandum involving universities, authorities ministries, trade leaders, and analysis establishments to develop Latvia’s chip capabilities.
Designed to turn out to be a part of the broader European community of chip competence centres, the Latvian hub focuses on semiconductor microelectronics, silicon and polymer photonics, quantum applied sciences, and open-source chip design. It goals to offer complete assist to trade, notably startups and SMEs.
Positioning for long-term impression
RTU, working carefully with UL, has positioned itself because the coordinator of Latvia’s semiconductor ecosystem.
Future plans embody establishing a devoted chip design and testing laboratory – an space that represents the most important share of worth within the chip provide chain and the place Latvia has a aggressive benefit in expertise and expertise.
As Nordic and Baltic chip competence centres align extra carefully, the area is steadily reworking from a group of small markets right into a coordinated innovation powerhouse – one designed to play a significant position in Europe’s semiconductor future.
