Electric and renewable cars
Aiming to push affordable, efficient semiconductors that are nearly as durable as diamonds to set up a factory in Spain, a bold dream inspires a trio of Spanish firms. Nanoker, Fagor, and Hyperbaric formed a research and development consortium for the DioSiC project and recently secured 2.2 million euros from the Chip Missions program. The funding is part of a broader Perte plan for microelectronics and semiconductors that selected 15 projects and provided 50 million euros to bolster scientific and technological capabilities across companies.
Known as the Perte Chip European funding program, the initiative has allocated a total of 12.25 billion euros. It signals Spain’s intent to join the ranks of global leaders like Taiwan and South Korea in semiconductor manufacturing. The Chip Missions call, now resolved, marks a first step toward that goal. As Ramon Torrecillas, chief executive of the CSIC Foundation, explained in a recent conversation, the path into the chip market requires breaking away from conventional methods and pursuing something distinctly different, despite the high risks and costs involved.
Based in Asturias, Nanoker collaborates with Burgos’ Hyperbaric and Cantabrian Fagor Electronics to develop a production material for high power microchips using silicon carbide. Although Bosch, a German multinational, serves as a notable European producer, its products come with premium pricing. The ambition here is to democratize access to advanced semiconductor technologies by cutting production costs by about 30 percent and boosting efficiency by around 35 percent, rendering large-scale production economically viable.
Electric and renewable cars
A single chip is a tiny square that hosts the circuitry of modern electronics. While silicon remains the most common semiconductor material, not all applications suit silicon. For high-power needs, silicon carbide emerges as the preferred cornerstone. This shift could accelerate developments in fast charging for electric vehicles and future energy storage for renewables.
The DioSiC project, with a budget of 3.3 million euros and two-thirds funded by Perte Chip, targets the production of silicon carbide substrates. Nanoker brings its Spark Plasma Sintering technique, a rapid densification method performed at very high pressures, to create cost-effective silicon carbide. Hyperbaric in Burgos supports the process, while Torrecillas notes the Spanish collaboration focuses on efficient production methods.
Fagor Electronics Cantabria will take the next step of turning chips into usable products. The ambition is clear: build a plant in Spain using this technology and position Europe as a leader in silicon carbide production. The plan includes a two-year timeline to reach production milestones and achieve real industrial impact.
Other projects
Beyond the core trio, 65 companies joined 14 additional projects, collectively receiving 50 million euros in non-refundable funds. This sum accounts for 70 percent of the total project budget, drawing in familiar names like Indra and Televes, alongside specialized players such as Twoptics System Design and Fyla Laser. The spectrum of projects spans a wide range of applications and collaborations.
One venture led by a Basque internet company, together with five peers, is pursuing the creation of a high-performance, low-power integrated card intended for use in stratospheric balloons. Another initiative, led by a microfluidics-focused team, aims to develop an in vitro microfluidic system to monitor pharmacological treatments for cancer.
Catalan company Monochrome drives a project to strengthen the Spanish semiconductor value chain by advancing technologies for a swir vision-based 3D system designed for high-volume market adoption. The overall push centers on transforming Spain into a competitive hub for next-generation semiconductor production and related technologies, backed by strategic funding and cross-regional collaboration.