Design Acceleration & Services Hub

The European chip design platform.

IC-DASH is a European project bringing together 10 partners across the semiconductor component design value chain.

This consortium aims to accelerate the prototyping
and pre-industrialisation of European microchips.

The IC DASH project
aligns with the vision championed by EuroCDP

What is IC-DASH?

The European chip design platform to accelerate innovation and growth among fabless companies in Europe.

IC DASH (IC Design Acceleration Services Hub) is a European Design Enablement Team operating under the EU Chips Act and integrated into the EuroCDP ecosystem. Its mission is to accelerate the design of custom semiconductors for European fabless companies by providing them with an integrated, end-to-end support environment, from concept definition to silicon ready for mass production.

Coordinated by the CEA and led by a consortium of 10 expert partners, IC DASH draws on expertise covering the entire semiconductor value chain.

The project acts as a one-stop shop to facilitate the development of chips for embedded systems and edge applications by supporting companies at every critical stage: architecture, design, prototyping and pre-production.

By combining technical expertise, access to advanced infrastructure and methodological support, IC DASH aims to reduce the technical, financial and organisational barriers that often hinder innovation and access to silicon for European start-ups, SMEs and industrial players.

What is EuroCDP?

The European chip design platform to accelerate innovation and growth among fabless companies in Europe.

Semiconductors are at the heart of modern technology, but the majority of chips used worldwide are not designed in Europe. In a rapidly growing market, Europe currently accounts for a limited share of global chip design and less than 1% in the fabless segment — companies that design chips without owning their own manufacturing plants. This situation poses a strategic challenge for European technological sovereignty.

To address this challenge, the European Union has launched EuroCDP (European Chips Design Platform) as part of the European Chips Act. This platform aims to become the European gateway for innovation in chip design, offering simplified and structured access to all the resources needed to design and manufacture integrated circuits, with a view to accelerating innovation and growth among fabless companies in Europe.

Designed to support start-ups, SMEs, research teams and fabless innovators, EuroCDP provides an integrated environment offering easy access to the tools and expertise essential for microprocessor design. In particular, the platform provides access to design tools (EDA), IP libraries, process design kits (PDKs), prototyping and manufacturing facilities, as well as coaching, training and innovation support services.

EuroCDP supports innovators throughout the design process, from proof of concept to market launch, whilst also facilitating access to European pilot lines for manufacturing, integration and testing. Through this integrated approach and with the support of Design Enablement Teams (DETs), the platform aims to reduce the technical and economic barriers to chip design and to strengthen the European semiconductor design ecosystem.

What are the issues?

IC DASH supports European innovators, from concept to silicon, by facilitating access to expertise, infrastructure and the semiconductor industry ecosystem.

Design support

IC DASH supports companies through the various stages of integrated circuit design: architecture definition, hardware/software co-design, design and validation. The DET teams provide advanced technical expertise to ensure the right technological choices are made and optimised from the very earliest stages of the project.

Access to design facilities

The project facilitates access to the resources essential for the design of EDA tools, IP libraries, process design kits (PDKs) and IC development environments. DASH acts as a simplified gateway to these infrastructures, which are often difficult for start-ups and SMEs to access.

Prototyping and access to silicon

IC DASH supports the development of prototypes and the validation of designs by facilitating access to manufacturing services, particularly through MPW (Multi-Project Wafer) runs. This stage enables companies to test and iterate on their solutions quickly prior to the mass production phase.

Integration into the industrial ecosystem

The project connects innovators with the European semiconductor ecosystem, including research centres, technology providers, foundries and industrial partners. IC DASH thus facilitates the transition from prototype to product and helps to strengthen the European value chain.

About IC DASH

A European one-stop-shop initiative to speed up access to silicon

IC DASH (IC Design Acceleration Services Hub) is a European Design Enablement Team operating under the EU Chips Act and integrated into the EuroCDP ecosystem. Its mission is to accelerate the design of custom semiconductors for European fabless companies by providing an integrated support environment covering the entire process, from concept definition to silicon ready for industrialisation.

Coordinated by the CEA and led by a consortium of 10 expert partners, IC DASH covers the entire semiconductor value chain and acts as a one-stop shop for the development of integrated circuits for embedded systems and edge applications. The project aims to remove the technical and operational barriers that often slow down innovation and time-to-market for start-ups, SMEs and European industrial players.

IC DASH focuses on the development of customised semiconductor components tailored to specific application requirements, with a particular specialisation in embedded systems and edge computing architectures. The project draws in particular on advanced SOI (Silicon on Insulator) technologies and targets sectors where optimised, energy-efficient integrated circuits tailored to specific constraints are essential, such as aerospace, automotive, security and defence, as well as medical technologies.

IC DASH thus supports the development of high-performance, low-power solutions designed to meet the most stringent industrial requirements and facilitate their integration into real-world applications.

IC DASH operates within a framework that complies with stringent industry and sector-specific standards, ensuring compliance with the most demanding markets. Its quality certifications include EN 9100 (aerospace and defence), ISO 13485, IATF 16949 and ISO 9001, as well as ESA and Common Criteria standards for security applications.

Our expertise in product certification also covers DO-160, DO-178C, DO-254 DAL x, ISO 26262 ASIL x and ISO 21434, as well as other sector-specific requirements. This approach ensures that prototypes developed within the IC DASH framework are not only functional but are aligned from the design stage with industrial qualification and certification processes, thereby facilitating their transition to industrialisation.

Les membres du projet

The IC DASH project is coordinated by the CEA and implemented through a strong network of industrial, technological and academic partners covering the entire semiconductor design value chain

CEA

Siemens EDA

SiPearl

Cap Gemini

IC’ALPS

EASii IC

SERMA ID MOS

CIME P

Presto Engineering

Synergie CAD PSC