European design house partners with Intel for foundry alliances

IC’Alps, based in France, has recently become a member of the Intel Foundry Accelerator Design Services Alliance and Value Chain Alliance programmes for 1.8nm designs. The design house, which is in the process of being acquired by SealSQ in Switzerland, specializes in providing exclusive and custom-made ASICs. This partnership signifies a significant step forward in offering custom IC solutions on the Intel 18A technology, with qualifications meeting automotive, medical, mil/aero, and security standards. Intel Foundry has already conducted 100 chip tapeouts on the process and is gearing up for volume production by the end of the year, with further qualifications expected to follow.

The collaboration between IC’Alps and Intel aims to expedite advanced ASIC design, production, and time-to-market for Intel Foundry’s clientele. Membership in the Alliance was granted after a comprehensive audit that assessed processes, methods, design flows, and past accomplishments. This agreement serves as a validation of the technical prowess possessed by the IC’Alps team.

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IC’Alps boasts the expertise to oversee the architecture of the ASIC or specific sub-blocks to be integrated later into an integrated circuit. This encompasses front-end design, verification efforts, back-end physical implementation up to sign-off, and managing tests post-fabrication. In the Value Chain Alliance, IC’Alps offers comprehensive turnkey services, engaging with end customers from system-level specification to order management.

The impending acquisition by SealSQ positions IC’Alps to offer cutting-edge solutions, including NIST-compliant post-quantum cryptography features. Lucille Engels, the COO of IC’Alps, expressed enthusiasm about joining the Intel Foundry’s Value Chain Alliance, emphasizing the opportunity to enhance skills, processes, and expertise. Engels highlighted the benefits of gaining hands-on experience with Intel Foundry’s advanced processes and supporting innovation within the Alliances.