Internal Communication
As outlined in the adopted work programme, internal communication is an integral part of the general management of the JU Office.
In 2024, the well-established practice of holding monthly hybrid staff meetings continued. These meetings keep employees informed about developments in a rapidly evolving environment and serve as a platform to review objectives, assess progress, and plan future actions. The format includes updates from the Executive Director and line managers, who provide insights into ongoing activities, challenges, and successes within their respective units, while also opening the floor for questions, clarifications, and suggestions.
Additionally, the Executive Director holds weekly management meetings covering administration, communication, finance, and operations. These meetings address team-specific issues and facilitate the exchange of information. Furthermore, each unit has dedicated monthly bilateral sessions with the Executive Director, allowing for a more focused discussion on unit-specific challenges, priorities, and strategic alignment.
During 2024, a new HR intranet was developed and presented to staff members, which helps JU staff to be informed about their rights, entitlements, rules applicable to them and any update on these rules coming from the European Commission. A new system of “HR news” was also introduced.
External Communication
The JU Communications Policy and Strategy adopted by the GB in April 2022, provided the main framework for external communications in 2024. The Communication Team planned and executed a series of activities in line with the policy’s goals and objectives (Article 2), ensuring a consistent and strategic approach to outreach and stakeholder engagement. Monitoring and key performance indicators (Article 10) confirm that the objectives set for 2024 were fully achieved, demonstrating the effectiveness of the communication efforts.
Events
The Chips JU representatives, including the Executive Director and Programme Officers, actively participated in various engagements throughout 2024, contributing to any discussions on semiconductor innovation, funding opportunities, and strategic developments in the sector.
The Chips JU was also present at SEMICON Europa 2024, held in Munich from November 12-15, the Chips JU took a collaborative approach by inviting four Pilot Lines to be part of its stand, transforming it into a shared space that highlighted not only the Chips JU's work but also these initiatives. The communication teams from the Pilot Lines actively participated, contributing to the stand’s success and engaging with visitors. Beyond the exhibition, the Pilot Lines also had a platform to share their insights, delivering speeches that emphasised their role in semiconductor technologies landscape. Chips JU Executive Director, Jari Kinaret, also took the stage, reinforcing the JU’s vision and commitment to strengthening Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem.
In addition, the JU organised and co-organised several events throughout the year.
Organised or co-organised
ECS Brokerage event
The ECS Brokerage event, starting on 20 February 2024, merged the efforts of the AENEAS, EPoSS, and INSIDE Industry Associations into a single networking platform. It featured key sessions such as the Chips JU Calls 2024 overview, insights from European country representatives, and the ECS Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). The event also featured SME pitches, project presentations, and many targeted networking opportunities. These elements collectively aimed to foster partnerships and drive innovation within the ECS ecosystem.
EU Agencies Network Exhibition
EU Agencies Network Exhibition at the European Parliament, where EU Agencies and Joint Undertakings showcased their role in strengthening Europe's competitiveness and promoting sustainable innovation. The event provided a platform for engaging with Members of the European Parliament, particularly in discussions on the JU’s role in boosting semiconductor innovation and supporting Europe's technological sovereignty.
Info Sessions
Multiple dates, online
Throughout 2024, the Communication Team supported the Operational Unit in organising and conducting key seminars and workshops, covering topics such as:
• Competence Centres
• Design Platform
• Quantum pilots
The Communication Team took an active role in outreach efforts by pitching and organising a dedicated webinar for National Contact Points (NCPs). This session provided an opportunity to enhance the NCPs' understanding of the Chips JU’s mission, funding opportunities, and strategic initiatives, ensuring more effective dissemination of key information to stakeholders at the national level.
ECS Brokerage event
EU Agencies Network Exhibition
European Forum for Electronic Components and Systems
The European Forum for Electronic Components and Systems (‘EFECS’) 2024, organised by the Chips JU with the support of AENEAS, EPoSS, and INSIDE Industry Associations, gathered over 700 participants on December 5-6 in Ghent, Belgium, under the theme "Strengthening EU Competitiveness". The event showcased 54 Chips JU funded projects fostering collaboration and innovation in the ECS sector.
Keynote speakers addressed topics ranging from semiconductor competitiveness to strategic EU investments. Discussions covered the impact of Chips JU projects in sectors like automotive, AI, health, and energy, as well as advancements in Pilot Lines, Quantum Technologies, and Advanced Packaging.
Press Activities
Social Media
Social media plays a pivotal role in the JU’s external communication strategy, serving as a platform to reach a diverse audience, including tech enthusiasts, industry professionals, students, policymakers, and the public. Throughout 2024, the JU continued actively using and updating the X, LinkedIn, and YouTube accounts with the goal of building brand awareness and engaging with its key audiences. The social media channels were mainly used to share updates on the Chips JU, the Chips Act, calls for proposals, information about the projects and events of the community.
Campaigns
About the Chips JU
This campaign aimed to generate interest in the daily activities and operations of the Chips JU. Through Innovative Narratives Tailored to the Journey of each user and by exploring different formats, such as engaging visuals, informative text, interactive polls, and creative vector cartoons, these posts showcased the governance structure, objectives, information on funding opportunities & research initiatives, and collaborative efforts of the JU.
Chips JU calls
As the core activity of the JU, there was a strong focus on sharing informative content about them on the JU’s social media channels. This includes announcements of the calls launch, explanations of their objectives, participation conditions, deadlines and call results.
JU funded projects advertisement campaign
This campaign showcased the projects funded by the Chips JU, highlighting their goals, achievements, significance for the ECS sector in Europe, and impact on our daily lives. One of the main goals of this campaign was to translate the not always accessible language related to the projects to a broader audience, bridging the gap between the scientific aspects of the projects and a language that is user-friendly.
followers increase
The JU’s LinkedIn page followers grew from 4248, in January 2024, to 7395, in December 2024, marking a 74.08% increase.
January had the lowest new followers count, due to the fewer posts that month, while the highest growth in followers occurred in April, coinciding with the selection of four pilot lines, and November and December, around the dates of EFECS 2024
New followers per month
Most followers are concentrated in European metropolitan areas, with Brussels, Munich, and Paris leading. The follower base includes many job functions but suggests a strong professional and technical community. Followers come from a broad spectrum of industries, with significant numbers in Research Services, Semiconductor Manufacturing, and IT Services.
The highest performing posts of the year focused on important announcements, such as the selection of four new pilot lines to be implemented in Europe, approval of four projects, jointly funded by the EU and the Republic of Korea, the UK becoming a Participating State in the Chips JU programme, and the announcement of the EFECS 2024. On the other hand, the lowest performing posts were mainly reposts or updated on very specific events.
Youtube
followers increase
The YouTube channel was also maintained throughout 2024 with the upload of two new videos and the number of subscribers went from 78 (January 2023) to 94 (December 2024), representing a 20% increase. This suggests potential for greater engagement with a more consistent posting strategy.
X
followers increase
On the platform X, the number of our followers grew from 1780 to 1885, representing an increase of 5,57%. Nevertheless, the Chips JU X account registered low engagement and a less active audience, compared to LinkedIn. By the end of 2024, the X account was officially closed, with a strategic focus shifting towards LinkedIn and YouTube as the main communication platforms for reaching and engaging with the JU’s key audiences.
Newsletter
The Chips Pulse provides readers with a structured and engaging source of information on the Chips JU activities, funding opportunities, key industry events, and stakeholder updates.
In 2024, the distribution of Chips Pulse expanded beyond LinkedIn, with the newsletter now being delivered via email, enhancing its reach and accessibility. Each edition offers insights into Europe’s semiconductor landscape, covering major industry events, funding calls, and strategic developments within the sector. In total, the Chips JU sent 8 newsletters in 2024.
On LinkedIn, the newsletter has 4076 subscribers and generated 15,842 of impressions and 12,544 article views. The email subscription list has 4272 contacts, and the newsletter email campaign averaged a 29.1% open rate and a 3.8% click rate.
