Article 8: European network of competence centres in semiconductors
1. For the purpose of implementing actions under the Initiative's component referred to in Article 5, point (d), a European network of competence centres in semiconductors (the 'network') may be established.
2. With respect to the implementation of actions under the Initiative's component referred to in Article 5, point (d), the network may perform all or some of the following activities to the benefit of the Union industry, in particular SMEs and mid caps, as well as the public sector:
(a) providing access to design services and design tools under the Initiative's component referred to in Article 5, point (a), as well as to the pilot lines supported under the Initiative's component referred to in Article 5, point (b);
(b) raising awareness and providing the necessary knowhow, expertise and skills to the stakeholders for helping them accelerate the development and integration of new semiconductor technologies, design options and system concepts by using effectively the infrastructure;
(c) raising awareness and providing or ensuring access to expertise, knowhow and services, including system design readiness, new and existing pilot lines and supporting actions necessary to build skills and competences capacities supported by this Initiative;
(d) facilitating the transfer of expertise and knowhow between Member States and regions encouraging exchanges of skills, knowledge and good practices and encouraging joint programmes;
(e) developing and managing specific training actions on semiconductor technologies to support the development of the talent pool in the Union.
3. Member States shall designate candidate competence centres in accordance with its national procedures, administrative and institutional structures through an open and competitive process. The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, set the procedure for establishing competence centres, including selection criteria, and further tasks and functions of the centres with respect to the implementation of the actions under the Initiative, the procedure for establishing the network as well to adopt decisions on the selection of entities forming the network. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 33(2).
4. The network shall have substantial overall autonomy to lay down its organisation, composition and working methods. However, the organisation, composition and working methods of the network shall be in accordance with and contribute to the aims and objectives of this Regulation and the Initiative.
Note: This is not the final text of the European Chips Act. This is the text of the European Chips Act Proposal of February 2022.