The CSC is led by Brno University of Technology, in collaboration with the Czech Technical University in Prague, onsemi, Codasip, the Czech National Semiconductor Cluster, and the JIC innovation agency. Together, they aim to build a European center of excellence in chip design, training, talent development, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The center will support factory-less European companies with mentorship, financial advice, access to advanced design tools, prototyping platforms, and small-scale chip production. All of this is crucial for the growth of European SMEs in semiconductor design and instrumentation, and for reducing their dependence on international supply chains. To achieve this, the CSC will leverage the Brno region's deep expertise in intellectual property (IP) design, the development of electronic design automation (EDA) tools, and comprehensive materials research and characterization.
Beyond chip design, what makes the Brno region's role particularly unique in the semiconductor landscape is its mastery of electron microscopy, a crucial technology for the development, manufacturing, and quality control of semiconductors throughout the entire chip lifecycle.
"One in three electron microscopes used globally comes from Brno. This concentration of expertise in electron microscopy reinforces a strategic advantage for Europe's ambitions in the semiconductor sector in terms of a resilient supply chain," said Petr Strelec, director of Thermo Fisher Scientific's Brno plant.
Brno is home to world leaders in electron microscopy: Thermo Fisher Scientific, Tescan, and Delong Instruments. In 2023, they exported 93% of their production and invested heavily in R&D, strengthening the region's technological credentials. Also
in 2023, South Moravia became the first Czech member of the European Semiconductor Regions Alliance.
"The Czech semiconductor ecosystem, with Brno at its center, represents a vital element of the European strategy to reduce dependence on non-European chip production," explained Karel Masarik, director of CSC and founder of Codasip, a RISC-V company. "Thanks to the unique combination of chip design expertise and complementary technologies from Brno, such as electron microscopy, we bring crucial capabilities to the semiconductor value chain in Europe."
