Portugal Offers Strategic Partnership with the U.S. Semiconductor Industry

Semiconductor Review | Thursday, June 04, 2026

With a €68 million investment and 26 new high-tech products, Portugal’s Microelectronics Agenda is positioning the country on the global semiconductor map — highlighted by strong participation in U.S. trade shows and international R&D collaborations.

Portugal is strengthening its position as a new European technology hub in the semiconductor and microelectronics sectors. The Microelectronics Agenda, financed through the EU-backed Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), has already achieved 88% of its overall implementation and mobilized a €68 million investment. The initiative brings together 17 national entities and has developed 26 new Products, Processes, and Services (PPS) with direct global industrial impact.

Among its most innovative projects:

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• 77–79 GHz RADAR sensors for autonomous driving (Amkor-ATEP)

• 5G/6G photonic integrated circuits for next-generation networks (HFA and PICadvanced)

• IoT and AI-based industrial frameworks (Fraunhofer Portugal AICOS and Neadvance)

• Hybrid recycling technologies for precious metals from electronic waste (University of Coimbra and PCI)

The consortium has showcased its results in major U.S. events such as the 74th Electronic Components and Technology Conference (ECTC 2024, Denver) and Semicon West (San Francisco), reinforcing Portugal’s visibility as a credible and innovative technology partner for American manufacturers and integrators.

A key asset is the Microelectronics Observatory, a digital platform offering real-time data and insights into the European semiconductor ecosystem — a valuable resource for U.S. investors seeking industrial expansion opportunities in Europe.

“Portugal is ready to become a hub of talent and innovation within Europe’s semiconductor value chain,” said António Barny, R&D Senior Manager at Amkor Portugal. “Partnerships with U.S. companies will be crucial to strengthening Western technological sovereignty.”

An American delegation representing three leading organizations—the Florida High Tech Corridor, NanoSpective, and Silicon Assurance—is visiting Portugal this June. The itinerary kicks off on June 16th at the PCI Creative Science Park with a specialized workshop and B2B matchmaking sessions. Following this, the delegation will conduct site visits to Portuguese companies in Aveiro and Braga on June 17th and 18th, fostering international collaboration in advanced technology, materials science, and hardware security.

Created under the mobilizing agendas of the Portuguese Recovery and Resilience Plan, the Microelectronics Agenda has total eligible funding of € 67 572 099,37 by the Recovery and Resilience Plan, through NextGenerationEU.

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