About ICOS²
©UGent - imec
©Tyndall National Institute
What is ICOS²?
ICOS² is a three-year Coordination and Support Action (CSA) funded under Horizon Europe. The project will deliver evidence-based recommendations to the European Commission and Member States to strengthen EU policy objectives. It will also provide concrete data and analysis to help the Commission identify potential areas for cooperation and to support the implementation of actions that enhance research collaboration and reinforce the EU’s industrial position in the global semiconductor value chain.
This project aligns closely with the European Chips Act and the broader European strategy, ensuring strong EU positioning, industrial competitiveness and supply chain resilience. ICOS² builds a strong network of partners working towards strengthening research & innovation collaboration, reinforcing EU technological autonomy, consolidating international cooperation and laying the foundations needed to drive future innovation and technological progress for a sustainable and resilient semiconductor ecosystem.
The project adopts a multi-layered approach structured around three overarching pillars aiming to provide solid recommendations and kick-off actions:
This methodological backbone is structured around different activities which are implemented via the coordination of different work packages:
Strategy
Strengthening Europe’s Technological Autonomy
ICOS² supports pillar 3 of the EU Chips Act, emphasizing international partnerships, and building global alliances that support innovation and supply resilience
Enabling Global Research & Innovation Collaboration
To support pillar 1 of the EU Chips Act, ICOS² will identify mutually beneficial research and innovation cooperation with global leaders, in advanced technologies and advanced functionalities.
Evidence-Based Policy & Strategic Guidance
ICOS² will conduct in-depth analysis of economic value chains as well as in Europe’s strengths, gaps and potential alliances.
Facilitating International Engagement & Trust-Building
ICOS² will act as a neutral platform for European and foreign stakeholders to build trust and to align on technical and regulatory standards, preparing the ground for future co-funded research projects.
Promoting Sustainable & Inclusive Innovation
Integrating sustainability and societal values is of importance for ICOS², setting the foundations for a responsible and future-proof semiconductor ecosystem.
01.
Data collection and mapping
Gathering quantitative and qualitative data and mapping the ecosystem across the major semiconductor developing nations.
02.
Analytical modelling
performing comparative analysis, dependency ratios and risk quantification models to assess vulnerabilities.
03.
Scenario development
Designing “what-if” scenarios to simulate export bans, overcapacity crisis or geopolitical conflicts, analysing their impacts in the European semiconductor ecosystem.
04.
Translation to policy
Providing recommendations, prioritising actions and potential joint calls aiming to enhance cooperation and multi-stakeholder engagement.
05.
Community engagement
Ensuring that evidence is validated, disseminated, and taken up by the European Commission, potential partner countries, and industry alliances.
Context
ICOS² builds upon the work carried out by ICOS in supporting the European Commission’s effort to re-establish Europe’s global position in the semiconductor value chain.
ICOS focused on identifying areas where research cooperation with leading semiconductor countries can contribute to the growth and competitiveness of the European semiconductor industry. Over the course of the project, ICOS delivered a series of economic, technological and policy reports providing comprehensive overviews of the semiconductor ecosystems in target countries identified by Europe as strategic partners for cooperation.
Beyond these deliverables, ICOS successfully organised events that bought together stakeholders from both regions, fostering dialogue, facilitating the initiation of collaboration and enabling exchanges on concrete needs and opportunities. At the conclusion of the three-year project, ICOS provided the European Commission with a set of recommendations for future actions aimed at strengthening international cooperation and supporting the development of a resilient and competitive European Semiconductor ecosystem.
©ASML
Objectives
Economic intelligence
ICOS² will map the global semiconductor supply chains and industrial ecosystem and their expected evolution including their strengths, gaps, and vulnerabilities in non EU-countries. This includes analysing economic security risks related to over-capacities, export controls, and non-market practices.
Technology intelligence
ICOS² will assess the positioning of the EU relative to global competitors in emerging semiconductor technologies, patents, and publications. The objective is to identify areas of dependency, opportunities for leadership, and domains where EU engagement in standardisation is essential.
Cooperation intelligence
An analysis of political, industrial, and research cooperation frameworks will be conducted to evaluate cooperation modalities, and model “what-if” scenarios, thereby anticipating risks such as technology leakage, economic coercion, or geopolitical shocks.
Recommendations and support actions
A set of concrete recommendations for EU–non-EU cooperation will be published to support joint calls, and promote researcher mobility in priority fields that will be identified during the project activities.
Dissemination and engagement
The engagement to specific stakeholders will be ensured by an effective communication campaign of results. This communication plan is here to maximise uptake and ensure long-term impact.
Industrial Steering Group
International Advisory Board
Impact
Scientific impact
ICOS² is expected to strengthen human capital in R&I through collaboration, research mobility and joint workshops. These activities should also foster the diffusion of knowledge, that would serve as reference points for EU policy, industry and academia to support the expansion of the talent pool in the semiconductor ecosystem.
Societal impact
In the long term, ICOS² recommendations and cooperation models should contribute to societal resilience by addressing security and technology competitiveness. Through community engagement, dissemination at major events, and international networking, ICOS² strengthens the uptake of R&I in society, ensuring that outputs are accessible to all.
Technological & economic impact
It is expected that ICOS² frameworks for collaboration will accelerate new technologies and innovation-led industrial growth. ICOS² supports the creation of high-skilled jobs in semiconductor manufacturing, design and associated industries across Europe, while maximizing the return on EU investments by aligning with existing funding programs, fostering joint calls, and guiding cooperation with non-EU countries.