Imagine turning old solar panels and mining leftovers into the high-tech ingredients needed for computer chips. Instead of digging new holes in the ground, this project finds a way to clean and reuse materials like silicon and silver from waste. It is like recycling old electronics to build the next generation of AI and satellites.
Europe faces a precarious supply of semiconductor raw materials, relying on expensive and risky primary extraction. This creates vulnerability in AI, cybersecurity, and energy sectors due to high costs and environmental damage.
Eight technologies at TRL 6-7 for recovering antimony, silicon, and silver from waste, including purification and wafer production processes.
If you are a wafer producer dealing with high raw material costs and supply chain risks — this project developed recovery methods for antimony, silicon, and silver that could lower costs by up to 50%. This ensures a secure supply of electronic-grade materials without relying on primary extraction.
If you are a PV manufacturer dealing with the accumulation of photovoltaic waste — this project developed a circular system to reclaim materials from that waste. This allows for the production of mainstream and lightweight photovoltaics using recycled inputs.
If you are a satellite operator dealing with the need for secure, traceable components for mega-constellations — this project developed a full traceability chain for semiconductor materials. This reduces social and ecological risks associated with raw material sourcing.
Based on available project data, the technologies could provide semiconductor raw materials at up to 50% lower cost compared to current methods.
The project will demonstrate eight technologies at TRLs 6–7, meaning they are tested in relevant environments and moving toward industrial scale.
Based on available project data, the project aims to create two joint ventures to commercialize the developed technologies.
The project runs until April 2030, with the projected economic and environmental benefits starting from 2030 onward.
The project ensures full traceability along the value chain, from waste recovery and purification to wafer production and qualification.
The consortium is highly commercially oriented, featuring 13 partners across 11 countries with a strong industry presence. With 6 industrial partners (including 4 SMEs), the industry ratio is 46%, ensuring that the research is closely tied to market needs. The mix of 4 universities and 2 research institutions provides the necessary technical depth to move 8 different technologies from lab to TRL 7.
Contact CSEM (Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA) regarding the WISER project.
Contact SciTransfer to identify potential joint venture opportunities within the WISER consortium.
