The State Council has granted CSEM 3 million francs in financial support. This support is intended to enable CSEM to bring its semiconductor-related activities into compliance, particularly its MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) production line. By supporting CSEM’s investments in this way, the canton is making a substantial and concrete contribution to the framework conditions that support the local industrial base and is, in its own way, contributing to a Neuchâtel “Chip Act.”
The Canton of Neuchâtel is adopting a strategy to support the semiconductor industry—those silicon chips that are ubiquitous in today’s digital society. The State Council recently granted the CSEM extraordinary funding for technological innovation totaling 3 million francs for the period 2024–2028. This investment will enable the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM) to modernize its equipment and thus maintain a MEMS production line that complies with new market standards. This production line is essential for enabling CSEM to foster innovation within the local and international communities, and thus to work on innovative projects, small-batch production, and prototyping.
Computers, phones, cars, machines, medical devices, connected devices—nearly every system now contains semiconductor chips that are increasingly reliable, miniaturized, and high-value. Global competition is intense, particularly from the United States and the European Union, which are investing in major subsidy programs (“Chip Act” and “European Chip Act”) to ensure local semiconductor manufacturing and to counter competition from Asia.
By providing financial support to CSEM, the State Council is committing to an industrial policy that supports the semiconductor sector and, in its own way, is contributing to a Neuchâtel “Chip Act” with nationwide impact. By maintaining a modern and high-performance microfabrication line in the Neuchâtel region, this project helps foster innovation and value creation within the local economy. It will also enable CSEM to continue its international collaborations, as Switzerland remains excluded from programs such as “Digital Europe,” in which CSEM’s long-standing European partners are active and have received significant support to achieve an equivalent level of advancement.
Key Neuchâtel-based companies in the semiconductor industry
In the semiconductor industry, Switzerland—and more specifically the Canton of Neuchâtel—is home to world-renowned expertise and know-how. Many industrial companies in Neuchâtel operate internationally, particularly in the fields of sensor technology, microsystems, and actuators, where the properties of semiconductors have enabled technological advances. CSEM is one of the leading players in applied research and technology transfer in this field.
By supporting this investment, the competitiveness of Neuchâtel’s industrial ecosystem in the field of microtechnology will be strengthened, thereby providing the canton with a major advantage in terms of economic attractiveness.
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What are MEMS?
MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) are tiny systems that combine electronics and mechanics on a single chip. They are found in many everyday objects: automotive sensors, medical devices, smartwatches, and industrial equipment. Their small size and energy efficiency make them indispensable to technological innovation. CSEM is a recognized expert in the development and manufacturing of MEMS. It operates a platform that is unique in Europe, enabling it to create advanced circuits for high-tech applications. In addition to conducting research, it supports companies in the production of prototypes and reliability testing.
CSEM: 40 Years of Innovation in Neuchâtel
For 40 years, CSEM has played a key role in innovation and the economy of Neuchâtel. With 660 employees in Switzerland—a significant number of whom are based in Neuchâtel—it develops advanced technologies and transfers them to businesses. Specializing in MEMS and ultra-low-power electronics, CSEM covers 16 Deep Tech fields, ranging from artificial intelligence to renewable energy. Its expertise strengthens the local industry and makes Neuchâtel a leading center of innovation.