Tuesday 14 July 2026
A leading European consortium has officially launched ICOS² – International Cooperation on Semiconductor Innovation and Supply Resilience, a Horizon Europe Co-ordination and Support Action aimed at reinforcing Europe’s position in the global semiconductor ecosystem through the promotion of international partnerships.
Co-ordinated by Tyndall National Institute, Ireland, ICOS² brings together 21 leading organisations spanning industry, research, and policy across Europe – including major technology leaders such as ASML, Bosch, Infineon, NXP, and STMicroelectronics, alongside Europe’s foremost research and innovation actors.
Enabling critical sectors such as automotive, healthcare, energy, and telecommunications
Semiconductors are foundational to Europe’s economic security, enabling critical sectors such as automotive, healthcare, energy, and telecommunications. However, Europe currently faces structural challenges, including limited manufacturing capacity and dependency on external partners across the value chain.
ICOS² is designed to address these challenges by providing rigorous, evidence-based intelligence and actionable recommendations to support European policymakers and industry leaders in shaping future semiconductor strategy.
The project is closely aligned with the European Union’s semiconductor agenda, including the European Chips Act and its anticipated evolution toward Chips Act 2.0.
By delivering data-driven insights, risk analyses, and cooperation frameworks, ICOS² will help:
- Strengthen Europe’s technological autonomy and industrial competitiveness;
- Reduce vulnerabilities in global semiconductor supply chains;
- Enable targeted international cooperation with key global partners;
- Inform future policy and investment decisions at EU and member state level.
In particular, ICOS² will provide direct input to the implementation design of Chips Act 2.0, supporting a more coordinated and strategic European approach to global semiconductor engagement. Recognising that semiconductor innovation is global by nature, ICOS² will establish a structured approach to international collaboration based on:
- Economic intelligence – mapping global supply chains and dependencies;
- Technology intelligence – analysing emerging technologies and EU positioning;
- Cooperation intelligence – assessing partnership opportunities and risks;
- Actionable recommendations – enabling joint research initiatives and mobility programmes.
The project will engage with leading semiconductor ecosystems worldwide – including Canada, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the USA – to identify mutually beneficial partnerships that strengthen European resilience while safeguarding strategic interests.
Professor Giorgos Fagas, director of strategic development at Tyndall and co-ordinator of the ICOS² project, said: “Building upon the strong foundations laid down by the preceding ICOS project, ICOS² represents a critical step in moving from analysis to action in Europe’s semiconductor strategy. By combining deep intelligence with targeted international cooperation, we are creating the conditions for Europe to strengthen its industrial base and global competitiveness.”