EU launches platform to boost Europe’s chip design ecosystem

A consortium of 12 European research organizations has set up the EU Chips Design Platform, an EU-funded and Imec-spearheaded initiative to bolster IC design infrastructure, training and capital for fabless semiconductor startups, SMEs and research organizations. The platform will offer customized support for commercial EDA tools, IP libraries and EU Chips Act pilot line technologies and access to design IP repositories, including open-source options. Additionally, it will feature a startup support program with incubation, acceleration, mentoring activities and financial assistance.

“The EU Chips Design Platform will provide crucial resources for startups and SMEs to accelerate their design journey and bring their business ideas to market faster. By reducing the barriers to access design expertise, including EDA tools and IP, and drastically lowering chip design and fabrication costs and time-to-market, we’ll spark the growth of the European chip design industry,” states project coordinator Romano Hoofman of Imec.

Next to Imec, the coordination team of the EU Chips Design Platform includes Eindhoven University of Technology, CEA and Fraunhofer. The project will run from 2025 until the end of 2028.