ChipStart EU, an initiative led by the Malta Semiconductor Competence Centre (MSCC), is now accepting applications for its second cohort. This one-year, no-equity, no-cost incubator program is designed to accelerate the growth of early-stage semiconductor startups based in the European Union. Delivered by Silicon Catalyst EU Ltd in collaboration with Malta Enterprise and supported by the Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU), the program builds on the successful model of Silicon Catalyst to provide comprehensive support and resources to emerging ventures in the semiconductor space.
Program Details
• Program Name: ChipStart EU
• Duration: One-year
• Cost: No-cost to the startup
• Equity: No equity exchange required
• Focus: Early-stage semiconductor startup incubation
• Cohort Size: Approximately 10 startups selected per cohort
• Delivery Partner: Silicon Catalyst EU Ltd
• Lead Organization: Malta Semiconductor Competence Centre (MSCC)
• Key Supporters: Malta Enterprise and the Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU)
Eligibility Criteria
• Company Stage: Early-stage semiconductor start-ups
• Geographic Location: Based in any European Economic Area member country
• Funding Status: Must have raised less than $1.5M in VC and/or Angel funding
Program Benefits
• Design Resources: Access to no-cost Design IP and EDA tools
• Mentorship: Dedicated executive advisor mentorship, including a funded and assigned local European advisor
• Network Access: Connection to a global network of approximately 400 semiconductor executives
• Prototyping: No-cost advanced foundry tape-out for prototyping
• Training: Intensive, industry-specific startup training and face-to-face workshops designed to prepare leadership teams for VC investment
• Investor Access: Curated access to investors through Silicon Catalyst EU’s venture capital network
• Strategic Collaboration: Opportunities for collaboration with strategic partners
Application and Key Dates
• Application Status: Applications for Cohort 2 are currently open
• Application Deadline: March 1st, 2026
• Informational Webinar: A webinar will be held on February 20, 2026, from 11:30 to 12:30, featuring the program team and startups from the first cohort to discuss program support and the application process.
Cohort 1 Participants
• biio.ai (Denmark): Efficient AI for wearables
• endurancesemi.com (Ireland): Wide bandgap semiconductors (SiC)
• energhius.com (Spain): Ultra low-power PMU for energy harvesting
• genexic.com (Germany): High-performance analog/mixed-signal chiplets
• icecapsystems.com (Malta): Stacked Peltier thermal management solutions
• iqrypto.com (Belgium): Quantum Random Number Generators on CMOS
• linque.eu (Germany): Photonic network switches
• neucom.ai (Denmark): Dynamic vision sensor processing
• N/A (Ireland): Miniaturized chiplet inductors
• pulsar-micro.com (Malta): Driver chiplets for 1.6Tbps optical modules
• virasemi.com (Malta): Ultra Ethernet transport layer ASICs
• vividphotonics.com (Ireland): Super luminescent diode (SLD) miniature displays
By providing a comprehensive ecosystem of tools, mentorship, and industry access without financial burden, the ChipStart EU program is positioned to play a significant role in cultivating the next generation of semiconductor innovators across Europe. Interested parties are encouraged to review the eligibility requirements and application deadlines for consideration in the upcoming cohort.