EU launches €525 million platform for chip-design companies

Technology · First reported 5 Nov, 06:45 · Updated 00:58

Image: Wikimedia Commons · NASA Johnson Space Center · Public domain

The European Commission has launched a platform offering grants and shared design resources to European chip-design start-ups and smaller companies. The initiative aims to strengthen European design capacity, where firms currently earn less than 1% of global chip-design revenue, and is part of the EU Chips Act.

The European Chip Design Platform has a €525 million budget: €440 million for grants and €85 million to fund the platform itself.
Eligible start-ups and small and medium-sized companies can access design tools, reusable intellectual property, technical support and manufacturing capacity. Grants can reach €100,000 for early prototypes and €16 million for more advanced companies.
The EU budget contributes €285 million, with participating countries providing €240 million.
The Commission says European firms earn less than 1% of global chip-design revenue. Officials argue that a stronger European design sector could help provide demand for new chip factories in Europe.
The platform is part of the EU Chips Act. Belgian research centre imec leads the partner group running it, and 20 start-ups were already participating in a programme to prepare companies for market, according to TNW.

Summary written by Lux AI from 3 articles

Key facts

Total budget: €525 million
Grant funding / platform funding: €440 million / €85 million
Funding sources: €285 million from the EU budget; €240 million from participating countries
Grant limits: Up to €100,000 for early prototypes; up to €16 million for more advanced companies
European share of global chip-design revenue: Less than 1%, according to the European Commission