On June 5th, the newly established chip technology competence center KIIP was introduced to the broader public for the first time at the TalTech Innovation Festival. The event also featured discussions on the role of chip technologies and supercomputers in future innovations. Metrosert was represented by KIIP Programme Manager Andres Mellik, and Head of Drone Technologies, Rainer Kivimäe, who emphasized that chip development has become a strategically critical issue for Europe.
The new chip center, established under Metrosert’s applied research center, aims to foster chip development in Estonia. Its mission is to support companies in chip design and pilot production, while strengthening domestic expertise to elevate Estonia’s position within Europe’s high-tech ecosystem.
“Europe needs its own technological capabilities to ensure independence and resilience in the face of global crises. Estonia can play a key role here. The new competence center will give our companies access to top-level research and development and will bridge the needs of civilian and defence industries. Our engineers can develop solutions with a global impact,” said Kivimäe.
The KIIP competence centre is set to enhance the competitiveness of Estonia’s electronics sector and enable local companies to participate in Europe’s strategic value chains. The center offers support in product development as well as in the growth of skills and knowledge, bringing an international dimension to Estonia’s chip technology progress.
Metrosert serves as the lead partner of the center, combining its expertise in metrology and applied research with the practical development of technologies. Through the center, Estonian companies gain access to both technical knowledge and an international network that shares best practices and co-develops new solutions.
The project was launched in April 2025 and includes the installation of servers and necessary hardware, acquisition of software licenses, and preparation of the working environment. In parallel, recruitment of experts will begin to advise and train companies. The centre will also become part of the network of competence centers established under the EU Chips Act.
The four-year project has a total budget of €2.4 million, jointly funded by the European Union’s Digital Europe Programme and the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications. The center is led by a consortium comprising the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EIS), Metrosert’s applied research center, and the Estonian Electronics Industries Association (EETL). Collaboration is planned with TalTech, University of Tartu, and leading electronics companies.
Learn more about the new chip center HERE.
