Chip competence centres from the Baltic States and the Nordic countries signed a broad-based cooperation agreement on 9 December in Lund, Sweden, aimed at strengthening cross-border collaboration in the electronics and technology sectors.
The agreement brings together the expertise and experience of chip competence centres from the Baltic States, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark, collectively representing nearly 25% of all competence centres established in 2025 under the EU Chips Act.
With the signing of the agreement, cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic competence centres has now been formally established. In practical terms, this includes the joint development of services for companies in the field of chip design, as well as continuing education and training programmes within the framework of the recently launched European Chip Design Platform (EuroCDP). Key areas of collaboration also include coordinated technology offerings and awareness-raising activities targeted both at companies interested in chip development and at the wider public. The cooperation will additionally create new opportunities for startups across the region to enter Nordic and Baltic markets.
The Estonian Chip Technology Competence Centre (KIIP), operating within Metrosert’s applied research centre alongside its drone technology activities, is rapidly emerging as a key initiative for Estonia’s electronics and technology sector. The centre brings together advisory capabilities in chip development, testing and reliability assessment under one umbrella, linking expertise from the public sector, universities and industry.
According to Chip Center Programme Manager Andres Mellik, the centre, launched in March 2025, has had a successful launch. “So far, we have advised 15 companies from Estonia and Finland, helping them define their chip development goals. Through an agreement with Siemens, we are now able to offer licensed chip design software in addition to open-source solutions. The launch of the European Chip Design Platform will already next year enable Estonian companies to access tools from Synopsy and Cadence,” Mellik said.
Coordinator of the Chip Technologies and Design Center and Tallinn University of Technology Professor Jaan Raik highlights the chip design micro-credential programme that will be launched next year through TalTech’s Open University, with applications already open. “The chip design micro-credential opens the door to a rapidly growing international industry and provides skills that leading employers are already seeking today. Similar micro-credential and lifelong learning programmes are also offered by other European chip centres and universities, and cooperation between competence centres helps bring these opportunities closer to learners in Estonia,” Raik noted.
The Chip Technology Competence Centre KIIP is a strategically important initiative for Estonia, launched jointly by Metrosert’s applied research centre, the Estonian Electronics Industries Association, and the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency under the EU Chips Act. The centre is initially funded by Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU) and the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications. Its primary objective is to support companies—particularly SMEs and startups—in developing their chip design capabilities and upgrading skills.
KIIP supports companies in chip design and pilot production by providing access to expertise, infrastructure and international networks.