05 Nov 2026
EC launches European Chip Design Platform
On 4 November 2026, the European Commission launched the European Chip Design Platform, which will mobilise €525 million in investment to stimulate a new generation of European chip design companies. The project is a key initiative under the EU Chips Act.
Chip design is a core stage of the semiconductor value chain, where much of the industry's innovation emerges. European chip design companies currently account for less than 1% of global revenues in this segment. The EC points out that new manufacturing capacity in Europe will only be sustainable if there is enough demand for it, and much of that demand has to come from European designers.
The European Chip Design Platform - eurocdp.eu - will give chip design companies access to chip design tools, design support services, intellectual property blocks, as well as access to manufacturing capacity on the platform. These resources are often the most expensive and the hardest to access for early-stage companies.
Start-ups and companies can apply for funding on the European Chip Design Platform; grants of up to €100,000 are available to early-stage start-ups for proof-of-concept prototyping. In addition, more developed start-ups can apply for €16 million grants to help them meet the substantial costs of chip development towards commercialisation. Start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can also receive guidance from the European network of Chip Competence Centres when applying for access. By providing comprehensive support through training, rapid prototyping and access to state-of-the-art resources, the Platform will help European start-ups turn their innovative ideas into silicon and scale up faster.
A total of €440 million in public investment from the EU and Member States is available through grants. This is accompanied by a further €85 million in investment in the cloud-based platform's infrastructure, running support services and developing open-source chip design tools. A part of the total funding, € 285 million, comes from the EU budget and another €240 million comes from the participating States of the Chips Joint Undertaking. The cloud-based platform is operated by a consortium led by imec, and is supported by the Chips Joint Undertaking, with solutions from the world's leading EDA and IP providers.
For more information:
European Chip Design Platform - eurocdp.eu