imec to establish 40m chiplet development centre in Germany

imec, a leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, is making strides in the development of automotive chiplet technology. The establishment of the Advanced Chip Design Accelerator (ACDA) in Baden-Württemberg, southwest Germany, is a significant move backed by €40m over the next five years. The primary goal of this initiative is to provide enhanced support to the local and international automotive industry by expediting the introduction of automotive chiplets into manufacturing processes.

Japan is also actively involved in a similar project with the aim of having automotive chiplets in production by 2028. The ACDA center, located at the Innovation Park Artificial Intelligence (IPAI) in Heilbronn, will focus on developing pre-competitive chiplet technology, packaging, system integration, sensing, and (edge) AI technology as part of imec’s Automotive Chiplet Program (ACP). Collaboration with the renowned German research institute Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft will drive a national chiplet development activity.

Luc Van den hove, President and CEO of imec, expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating, “We are excited to bring our expertise and global partner network to the state of Baden-Württemberg, the cradle of the automotive industry in Germany. We also look forward to expanding our collaboration with Fraunhofer to leverage our complementary expertise and lay the foundation for future chiplet solutions.”

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, emphasized the significance of chiplet technology, stating, “Chiplet technology is a key component for the next generation of semiconductors. We expect this new technology to fuel innovation across industries, be it automotive, aerospace, or artificial intelligence.”

In alignment with these efforts, the recently launched APECS project aims to develop the technological foundations for pilot production of chiplets. FMD, in collaboration with European partners, is working towards establishing a national chiplet center to analyze use cases, derive technological solutions, and align the pilot line with industry needs. This strategic move is seen as a crucial step towards becoming an international leader in chiplet development and production, contributing to the technological sovereignty and economic strength of Germany and Europe.