Bucharest, January 9, 2026 – The Europe Today: Romania has surpassed the targets set under its National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) for the development of the semiconductor industry, after contracting projects worth more than €375 million, according to a joint announcement by the Ministry of Investments and European Projects (MIPE) and the Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (MEDAT).
The funding is linked to Romania’s participation in the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) “Low-Power Processors and Semiconductor Chips,” a strategic European Union initiative aimed at strengthening production capacity and research excellence in microelectronics across the bloc.
PNRR milestone exceeded
Authorities confirmed that the PNRR milestone, which had a deadline of December 31, 2025, was not only achieved but exceeded. While the minimum threshold set under the plan was €360 million, the total value of contracted projects surpassed €375 million.
Under this milestone, more than 10 participating or associated entities were selected, and 23 financing contracts were signed, involving both direct and indirect participants in the European IPCEI project.
MIPE stated that the achievement followed the unblocking of administrative procedures, the resumption of project evaluations, and the establishment of mixed assessment teams, following a political decision to fully leverage the strategic opportunity presented by European semiconductor investments.
For contracts signed in 2024 with direct participants in the IPCEI “Low-Power Processors and Semiconductor Chips,” authorities disbursed approximately 112 million lei in December 2025. These payments represent the first tranches of European funding dedicated to the development of microelectronics and low-power processor projects in Romania.
Building a national research and production ecosystem
Officials emphasized that the program is structured not merely to finance individual projects, but to foster a national ecosystem connecting companies, universities, and research institutes. The objective is to develop advanced technologies, specialized skills, and high value-added solutions capable of generating long-term economic benefits.
By integrating into European semiconductor value chains, Romania aims to position itself as a relevant player in a sector considered vital for industries such as automotive manufacturing, telecommunications, defense, artificial intelligence, and medical equipment.
“The structure was designed so that major European investments generate a national ecosystem in which companies, universities, and research institutes collaborate to develop technologies, skills, and high value-added solutions with long-term economic impact,” MIPE representatives said.
Preparation for new European strategic initiatives
Building on this achievement, MIPE and MEDAT announced that Romania is preparing to participate in additional IPCEI-type European strategic projects in key areas critical to the economy of the future. These include artificial intelligence, advanced semiconductors and digital infrastructure, biotechnologies, clean and autonomous vehicles, critical raw materials and related value chains, and innovative nuclear technologies.
Authorities noted that continued engagement in such initiatives is expected to further strengthen Romania’s technological capabilities and integration into high-value European industrial ecosystems.
