Fraunhofer DET

Chip design is critical to Europe’s technological innovation and global competitiveness, yet SMEs and startups face high entry barriers in early-stage development. The Fraunhofer Design Enablement Team (DET) tackles these challenges by accelerating time-to-market through comprehensive support aligned with the EU Chips Act. Fraunhofer DET offers a scalable, secure, and user-friendly EDA infrastructure—available both in the cloud and on-premise—tailored for startups and SMEs. This managed environment ensures affordable access to industry-standard tools and PDKs, significantly lowering upfront costs and reducing design cycle time. At the forefront of digital innovation, we plan to provide access to Intel Foundry’s cutting-edge 18A process node for the European ecosystem — a major leap in semiconductor technology. Intel 18A introduces RibbonFET and PowerVia, enabling higher performance and energy efficiency for next-generation digital ICs for AI and chiplet era. This positions European startups at the leading edge of global chip development. Our close ties with Intel Foundry and other key foundries—including GlobalFoundries, ams OSRAM, and X-Fab—enable us to deliver customized solutions across a wide range of nodes, from 180nm to sub-2nm. We support diverse applications: Analog/Mixed Signal, Digital, RF and Edge AI. Through the strength of the Fraunhofer network and strategic partners like APECS pilot line, CEA, and Capgemini, we assemble interdisciplinary teams to drive innovation. Our collaboration extends to packaging, testing, and logistics partners, ensuring reliable, end-to-end support across the value chain. Fraunhofer DET empowers SMEs and startups to access the most advanced technologies—especially Intel 18A—ensuring Europe remains competitive and resilient in the global semiconductor race.