AENEAS

Their core work

AENEAS (Association of European Nanoelectronics Activities) is a Brussels-based European industry association that represents and coordinates the nanoelectronics ecosystem across Europe. Their core work is strategic roadmapping — bringing together semiconductor manufacturers, research institutes, and equipment makers to define shared technology priorities for the European nanoelectronics sector. They participate in EU-funded coordination projects to align industry and research agendas, facilitate dissemination of technology roadmaps, and ensure European competitiveness in semiconductors and advanced chip technologies. As an association rather than a research lab, their value lies in convening power, policy influence, and the ability to mobilize large cross-sector consortia around agreed strategic directions.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their first H2020 engagement (NEREID, 2015–2018), AENEAS was focused on comprehensive nanoelectronics roadmapping — mapping the full landscape from classical CMOS semiconductors through sensors and power devices to post-CMOS emerging technologies. By their second project (COREnect, 2020–2022), the focus had narrowed toward connectivity infrastructure: the core hardware technologies enabling next-generation communication systems, which likely reflects the growing EU strategic priority around 5G/6G and digital infrastructure sovereignty. The shift suggests AENEAS is tracking European industrial policy closely, moving from broad semiconductor strategy toward the connectivity hardware layer where Europe has competitive stakes.

AENEAS appears to be pivoting from broad semiconductor roadmapping toward connectivity hardware strategy, positioning itself at the intersection of the European Chips Act agenda and next-generation telecom infrastructure priorities.

How they like to work

AENEAS joins projects exclusively as a participant rather than coordinator — consistent with their role as a convening association that lends legitimacy, dissemination reach, and sectoral representation rather than leading technical work packages. Their two projects involved an aggregate of 26 distinct partners across 10 countries, suggesting they operate comfortably in large, multi-stakeholder consortia typical of European coordination actions. For a prospective consortium partner, AENEAS brings an established network across the European nanoelectronics community and credibility with both industry and policy actors, but will not anchor the technical execution of a project.

AENEAS has collaborated with 26 unique partners across 10 countries, a broad European footprint consistent with their role as a pan-European sector association. Their network spans the full nanoelectronics value chain — likely including semiconductor manufacturers, equipment suppliers, research institutes, and academic groups concentrated in Western Europe's main electronics clusters (France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium).

What sets them apart

AENEAS is one of the few European-level associations whose primary mission is specifically nanoelectronics coordination, making them a natural gateway into the organized European semiconductor industry ecosystem — something a single university or company cannot replicate. For consortia building a CSA or strategic partnership project in semiconductors, chips, or electronics, AENEAS adds sectoral authority and dissemination reach that academics alone cannot provide. Their consistent participation in CSA-type projects signals a long-term institutional commitment to shaping European electronics strategy rather than chasing research grants.

Highlights from their portfolio

• NEREID
  A flagship European nanoelectronics roadmapping exercise (2015–2018) that mapped the full technology landscape from classical CMOS to beyond-CMOS, serving as the strategic compass for the sector — exactly the kind of project where an association's convening role is most visible.
• COREnect
  Marks AENEAS's strategic move into connectivity hardware (2020–2022), aligning with the European push for digital sovereignty in telecom components and positioning the association at the hardware-connectivity intersection.