A new UK-Bulgaria partnership is boosting semiconductor innovation, investment and skills across the technology sector.
This cooperation creates opportunities for innovation, investment and skills development, strengthens bilateral relations and supports Bulgaria’s efforts to position itself as a competitive player in the field of semiconductor innovation in Europe.
Under the UK-Bulgaria strategic partnership, the Science and Technology Network (STN) and the Department for Commerce and Trade (DBT) have linked UK expertise to Bulgaria’s ambitions under the EU Chip Act 2023 and the burgeoning automotive electronics sector.
The importance of semiconductors in a growing digital world
Semiconductors power everything from smartphones to electric vehicles to renewable energy systems.
The ability to act as a switch or amplifier allows for smaller size, increased power consumption, and lower cost, driving technological advances in nearly every industry.
Secure and diverse supply chains are essential to economic resilience and technological leadership.
Bulgaria as a growth hub for semiconductor innovation
Bulgaria is the gateway to eastern markets and a major manufacturing hub in south-eastern Europe.
The country currently produces around 80% of the sensors used in European cars and is home to state-of-the-art research and development centers and smart factories.
The electronics sector is expected to grow from approximately 2.3 billion euros in 2023 to 2.7 billion euros by 2028, corresponding to an average annual growth rate of 2.9%, making Bulgaria an important hub for semiconductor innovation.
Bulgaria’s automotive industry consists of approximately 380 companies and more than 80,000 employees, contributing more than 10% of Bulgaria’s GDP and being an important driver of economic growth.
The EU-backed EUR 1 billion R&D drive and the ambition of the EU Chip Act 2023 create strong partnership potential. All these factors make Bulgaria an important hub for the growing European semiconductor supply chain and chip manufacturing.
Expanding technological capabilities in Bulgaria
The next step in the UK-Bulgaria partnership is to establish a green silicon carbide wafer factory in Bulgaria, which has already delivered £10.5m worth of exports to the UK.
By combining UK compound semiconductor innovation with Bulgarian manufacturing capabilities, STN has helped lay the foundations for long-term cooperation in R&D and business investment.
By doing so, the partnership will be able to:
Diversify production with Europe, strengthen supply chain protection and reduce geopolitical risks. The co-located R&D hub and factory will create an ecosystem for rapid prototyping and commercialization of next-generation materials such as silicon carbide. Joint training programs and academic exchanges can help fill skills gaps in fields facing global talent shortages. Help promote supportive policy frameworks that can advance international partnerships.
The Science and Technology Network (STN) has acted as a trusted bridge between UK and Bulgarian governments, academia and industry, strengthening mutual understanding and developing opportunities for collaboration in semiconductor innovation.
Source link
