Semiconductor Prototyping Support Program

The Semiconductor Prototyping Support Program is a specialized ITIDA-EME “Egypt Makes Electronics” initiative designed to accelerate the growth of local and international semiconductor companies in Egypt. The program provides financial backing to offset the substantial costs associated with Integrated Circuit (IC), Chip, or IP prototyping.

The Semiconductor Prototyping Support Program is a specialized ITIDA-EME (Egypt Makes Electronics) initiative designed to accelerate the growth of local Egyptian semiconductor companies. The program lowers the financial barrier to innovation by subsidizing the costs associated with integrated circuit (IC), chip, or intellectual property (IP) prototyping and tape-outs.

The significant financial investment required for tape-outs and physical chip fabrication presents a steep barrier to entry for local semiconductor startups, as well as micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Core Strategic Objectives

Speed Up Time-to-Market: Help local semiconductor design firms transform logic designs into physical prototypes faster.

Global Readiness: Elevate the commercial viability of Egyptian-designed IC chips, Systems -on-Chip (SoCs), and IP blocks in international technology markets.

Industrial Scale: Spur regional high-tech employment and foster a robust semiconductor ecosystem within Egypt.

Target Beneficiaries & Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Semiconductor Specializations
This program is exclusively available to Semiconductor Design Companies operating in Egypt that specialize in:

- Integrated Circuits (IC) Chips

- Intellectual Property (IP) Blocks

- System-on-Chip (SoCs)

Mandatory Company Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the Semiconductor Prototyping Support Program, companies must satisfy all the following requirements:

Company Status: Registered with ITIDA as an active semiconductor design firm.

Company Size: Micro, small, and medium enterprises with a maximum workforce of 200 employees.

Operational History: At least one (1) year of active operation prior to the application date.

Minimum Workforce: At least three (3) full-time technical engineers dedicated to R&D.

Strategic Growth Performance Indicators

Beneficiaries must demonstrate annual business development measured by at least one of the following indicators:

Workforce Growth: A minimum 20% increase in full-time R&D employees, verified by a certified external auditor’s report.

Market Expansion: Expansion into new geographic or sector markets, verified by a certified external auditor’s report.

Revenue Growth: An annual revenue increase equal to at least 300% of the support value received, verified by a certified external auditor’s report or official financial statements (excluding the provided support funds from revenue calculations).

Financial Benefits & Funding Cap

50% Tape-Out Subsidy Structure & Disbursement

Cost Subsidy:Financial coverage of up to 50% of physical chip prototyping and tape-out costs.

Funding Cap: High-tier support capped at a maximum of EGP 6 Million per company, per year.

Support Duration: Eligible for 2 years.

Disbursement Schedule: Funds are disbursed quarterly (every 3 months) based on verified vendor milestones, invoices, and proof of payment.

Application Procedures & Governance

Compliance & Performance Monitoring

To qualify for the EDA Support Program, companies must meet the following criteria:

Prototyping support requests and allocations are strictly governed by program guidelines and the framework agreement with ITIDA.

ITIDA reserves the right to cancel remaining disbursements or suspend a company from the program if target growth outcomes are not met.

The Evaluation Committee may conduct on-site visits or invite company representatives to present technical and commercial progress.

Compliance & Monitoring

Allocation of prototyping support is strictly governed by program guidelines and framework agreement with ITIDA.

ITIDA reserves the right to cancel remaining disbursements or suspend a company from the program if target growth outcomes are not met.

The Evaluation Committee may conduct on-site visits or invite company executives to present technical and commercial progress.

5-Stage Application Lifecycle

The program follows a transparent four-stage lifecycle:

1Announcement: Public rollout of the application window.

2 Program Registration: Companies submit their formal business and financial proposals.

3 Review & Evaluation: ITIDA’s technical committee reviews submissions against eligibility criteria.

4 Agreement: Finalizing framework agreements with approved beneficiaries.

5 Reimbursement: Funds are disbursed upon submission of executed business cases with official vendor contracts, invoices, and valid proof of payment.

Application Deadlines & Downloadable Resources

Secure capital for your next tape-out and scale your fabrication efforts today.

Application Rounds & Submission Email

Submit your proposed business case to: EME.EDA@ITIDA.gov.eg

Round 1: Opens Monday, July 20, 2026 | Deadline: Thursday, August 20, 2026

Round 2: Opens Thursday, October 1, 2026 | Deadline: Thursday, October 29, 2026

Download Official Application Templates

Download the Semiconductor Prototyping Business Case Template (PDF, 2 pages).

Download the Semiconductor Prototyping Registration Form Template (PDF, 2 pages).