For the ALLPROS.EU project, OpenForum Europe created a series of policy briefs to explore different aspects of the semiconductor industry. This policy brief is the first produced for the project, exploring the open source silicon approach in terms of its importance for semiconductor research and development as well as its industrial integration in Europe. The background of this approach and its relations to the semiconductor value chain are investigated in an overview of the open source silicon landscape. The report’s recommendations are informed by the first stakeholder engagement in ALLPROS.EU, a series of expert interviews and an in-depth SWOT analysis.
The policy brief finds that open source silicon approach brings significant strengths in enhancing the academic sector and thus in reinforcing the foundation of innovation in the industry. This is primarily a result of open source silicon providing a catalyst for innovation in the production step of chip design. However, it must be pointed out that this area of Open Source Hardware is still nascent and therefore often lags behind leading-edge proprietary tools or processes. Nevertheless, it offers a large potential for high-level integrations, which should be recognised as strategically relevant. Based on this analysis and interviews, it identifies key recommendations for the sector, including building capacity to govern, map and study the open source silicon landscape, improving legal certainty and diversity in the field and fostering both industrial and academic research and development within the sector.
As part of the ALLPROS.EU project, this policy brief contributes to the wider goal of enhancing Europe’s digital sovereignty through the chips industry. The ALLPROS.EU Coordination and Support Action project, launched in 2022, supports the Alliance for Processors and Semiconductors. Through this, ALLPROS.EU develops tools that advance collaboration and knowledge exchange targeting the semiconductor ecosystem, promoting the European industry. Thus, the project supports the collaboration of industry, policymakers, and academia to enhance the growth and resilience of the European semiconductor ecosystem.
Lead authors: Paula Grzegorzewska & Helena Winiger
Disclaimer
ALLPROS.eu has received funding from the European Commission’s Digital Europe Programme (DEP), under Grant Agreement No. 101083947. The content of this document does not represent the opinion of the European Union, and the European Union is not responsible for any use that might be made of such content. The European Commission is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.
