Andres Mellik, programme manager of the Estonian Chip Center, discussed the development of chip technologies on global level and Estonia’s contribution to the field on the radio show Tööstusuudised eetris (“Industrial News on Air”).
Mellik emphasized that chips have been an integral part of everyday life for decades, and modern technology heavily depends on the chip industry. “This is an increasingly critical sector, without which it would be difficult to develop, for example, drones, which are important for Ukraine,” he explained. In addition, chips significantly impact the operation of data centers, artificial intelligence applications, and consumer electronics.
Last spring, Metrosert, the Enterprise Estonia Foundation, and the Estonian Electronics Industry Association launched the Estonian Chip Technology Competence Center. The center aims to develop the local chip community, connect the research and business sectors, and provide information on funding opportunities and international projects. It is part of the European Union initiative Chips JU, under which 30 chip centers have been established across member states. The Estonian Chip Center focuses on chip design and provides support at the European level in three main areas: hardware security, chip testing and safety, and functional verification.
Mellik noted that initial consultations have already taken place with 20 Estonian companies, and collaboration with four or five has reached the design process phase. “We can expect locally designed chips to be ready soon,” he added.
In addition, a chip design microdegree program was launched in January in collaboration with TalTech (Tallinn University of Technology). Mellik mentioned that the Estonian microdegree program stood out during the European chip centers’ major meeting in Brussels.
According to the programme manager, a chip designer in Estonia can earn a salary comparable to that of a senior software developer, reaching around 8,000 euros per month for an experienced specialist.
When asked whether Europe could eventually see a world-class manufacturer like TSMC, Mellik said that it is possible and welcome.
Full episode (in Estonian) is available on Äripäev Radio, hosted by Harro Puusild.