€34m collaboration for SwissChips research
Switzerland has launched a €34m collaboration between its major research labs for semiconductor development.
The SwissChips Initiative over the next two years is a collaborative effort launched by CSEM, EPFL, and ETH Zurich, with support from various Swiss and European research entities, semiconductor associations, and industrial partners.
The initiative covers a wide range of chips from Computing System on Chips (SoCs), 6G Communications, Space Electronics and Photonics and SoCs for Autonomous IoT Devices to edge AII, Biomedical Circuits and Systems and Devices and Sensors.
This follows a similar €100m programme last year with a focus on green power technologies.
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ETH Zurich is coordinating the SwissChips programme, with all three founding institutions taking leading roles in their respective research areas. These efforts are designed to bolster microelectronics and IC design research, innovation, development, and businesses, ensuring Swiss academic institutions have access to cutting-edge manufacturing and design technologies.
The programme involves PhD and Postdoc researchers, as well as the existing engineering and research staff of the participating institutions, who will push the boundaries of IC design.
The programme is a transitional measure that runs to 2026 with a total budget of CHF33.8m (€34m) coming mainly from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).
The programme is organized into several work packages (WP), in which CSEM plays an active role. CSEM also leads or co-leads on 6G Communications (WP3), SoCs for Autonomous IoT Devices (WP5), Chips for Edge AI (WP6) and Biomedical Circuits and Systems (WP7).
The current focus on domestic production by the US, EU and now India can have a detrimental effect on Switzerland’s current position in research and innovation in semiconductors, microelectronics and IC design, says Prof. Christoph Studer, designated head of SwissChips.
“To make matters worse, the partial exclusion from the European research and innovation programme Horizon and the full exclusion from the new “Digital Europe” programme means that Swiss research and industry currently only have significantly limited access to the European research infrastructure required for innovative chip design,” he said.
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