High-performance microchips are an integral part of modern technology. The majority of the chips used are supplied by manufacturers from Asia and North America. In order to strengthen Germany's position as a center of innovation for chip design, the virtual Karlsruhe Chipdesign House (KCH) has been established at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). It is to be established on KIT's South Campus by 2027. The foundation has been approved by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts (MWK). There will also be a new Master's degree program at KIT.
Making Europe more independent when it comes to microchips
Whether it's a smartphone or a heavy goods vehicle, we wouldn't get very far without microchips. Almost all modern technologies are based on them. Production in Germany can no longer keep up with demand. The largest manufacturers that supply producers worldwide with microchips are based in Asia and North America.
“The demand for powerful and efficient chips for digital transformation continues to grow,” explains Professor Mehdi B. Tahoori from the Institute of Computer Engineering at KIT. “Most of the sales are made by chip giants outside Europe. The energy crisis in particular, when we had to reduce our production due to the cost of electricity, has shown our great dependence on imports, for example for silicon chips produced in Asia.”
“There is an urgent need to promote production and its development opportunities in Europe in order to reduce critical global dependencies and secure the digital sovereignty of Germany and Europe,” says Professor Oliver Kraft, representing the President. “The KCH bundles cutting-edge research in the field of chip design. With its expertise, KIT is the right location for this.”
Degree program for chip design specialists planned
With the planned KIT Chipdesign House (KCH), KIT aims to take on a leading role in the coordination of chip design in Baden-Württemberg and beyond. The focus is on comprehensive training for chip design specialists.
“At KCH, we want to develop an interdisciplinary Master's program in chip design together with partners,” says Professor Jürgen Becker from the Institute of Information Processing Technology at KIT. “In addition to practice-oriented lectures, it will also offer workshops and events with experts from industry to provide comprehensive training for future specialists and managers.”
The MWK is funding the KIT Chipdesign House as part of the BEGIN funding initiative (Participation in Major European Projects and Initiatives) with around one million euros until 2027.
