HORIZON EUROPE: ReSiLient - value chains for silicon and silicon carbide semiconductor raw materials
As part of the European Commission's HORIZON funding programme, innovative solutions are to be developed to strengthen European value chains for silicon and silicon carbide semiconductor raw materials.
Silicon (Si) and silicon carbide (SiC) are fundamental to modern electronics. Si is the basis for logic, memory and photovoltaic technologies, while SiC is crucial for highly efficient power electronics in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, defence and aerospace applications. They drive digital and ecological change and play complementary and irreplaceable roles in the global semiconductor value chain. Both materials originate from the same source: quartz.
The four-year project addresses three key challenges: limited access to high-quality quartz and its impending scarcity, insufficient processing capacities in Europe, and the high environmental footprint of current production methods. By 2050, ReSiLient will create a resilient European base for Si and SiC. By 2050, ReSiLient's raw materials could enable the production of approximately 533 million silicon wafers (about 32% of European demand) and approximately 5.4 million SiC wafers. ReSiLient will also reduce the carbon footprint of Si and SiC production by replacing fossil-based reducing agents with bio-based carbon, integrating CO₂ mineralisation and recycling secondary raw materials. This will reduce emissions by over 300 kt CO₂ by 2050, in line with the objectives of the EU Green Deal and the CBAM.
ReSiLient brings together a consortium along the entire value chain, from raw material producers and recycling companies to technology developers and semiconductor manufacturers. With commercial partners involved in every phase, the project ensures that innovations are demonstrated on a pre-industrial scale, validated by end users and prepared for market launch, thereby strengthening Europe's strategic autonomy in silicon and silicon carbide production.
The project consortium is
The project consortium is led and coordinated by SINTEF (Norway). Within the project, bifa Umweltinstitut is responsible for work packages 6 and 7, which focus on the topics of environment, circular economy, techno-economic assessment and sustainability, as well as delivering the business plan and exploitation strategy. In addition, bifa is responsible for material and data flow management and contributes to the social acceptance, dissemination, communication and standardisation of the RESILIENT project results.
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Funding code: Project 101294649
Funding programme: HORIZON-CL4-2025-01
Project duration: 04.26 -
Funded by: HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-MATERIALS-63
Project partners: SINTEF (Norwegen)
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