There is no question that no electrical device today can do without an integrated circuit. Chip design is the essential step in designing microelectronics for future products and applications. Against this background, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding the new 'Chipdesign Germany' network for three years with four million euros as part of the microelectronics design initiative.
The 'Chipdesign Germany' network forms a platform for pre-competitive, open exchange between all players involved in chip design. It is supported by the four cooperation partners edacentrum, Forschungsfabrik Mikroelektronik Deutschland, Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau and Leibniz Universität Hannover.
The task of the network is to give chip design a voice in order to make its importance for the economy and society visible. The network serves as a central point of contact for this topic in Germany. It develops and networks measures for the education and training of young professionals, technology monitoring and support for start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises in microelectronics. The network will also promote science communication in order to sensitize society to the relevance of chip design.
The network advises the BMBF on all issues relating to chip design, Germany's positioning in microelectronics and develops recommendations for action for accompanying program research.
The partners
- The edacentrum is an independent authority for electronics, design and applications in industry and science. It shapes research and development for a consistent design methodology along the entire value chain. In this role, the edacentrum is a recognized innovation accelerator for the microelectronics industry and its user industries. It initiates, coordinates and supports industry-led, publicly funded R&D projects in the field of 'EDA', both in the classic sense of 'electronic design automation' and in the sense of 'electronics, design and applications', and offers a comprehensive range of services.
- The Research Fab Microelectronics Germany (FMD) is a globally active and cross-location R&D network for micro- and nanoelectronics and bundles the know-how and technological infrastructure of 13 cooperating institutes from the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and Leibniz Association throughout Germany. Together, they develop scientifically based, application-oriented technologies and system solutions for sustainable microelectronics. The research factory thus makes a decisive contribution to the technological sovereignty of Germany and Europe. From 2017 to 2021, the BMBF supported the modernization of the research infrastructure of all 13 participating institutes.
- Since January 1, 2023, the Technical University of Kaiserslautern and the University of Landau together form the Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University of Kaiserslautern-Landau. With over 20,000 students and more than 300 professors, it is the second largest academic institution in the state. As a place of top international research and an academic talent factory for business and science, the university offers excellent study and research conditions as well as a cosmopolitan environment. It is also an innovation and transfer partner for politics, business and society.
- As one of the nine leading technical universities in Germany, Leibniz University Hannover believes it has a responsibility to contribute to sustainable, peaceful and responsible solutions to key future challenges. The competence for this arises from the broad spectrum of subjects, ranging from engineering and natural sciences, architecture and environmental planning, law and economics to research-intensive social sciences and humanities.
Competence in chip design will strengthen Germany's innovation and competitiveness and make Europe more technologically independent.
