The Czech Semiconductor Centre takes the form of a six-member consortium, which includes the two largest Czech technical universities -Brno University of Technology (BUT) and  Czech Technical University (CTU), the companies onsemi and Codasip, the National Semiconductor Cluster (CNSC) and the innovation agency JIC. Funding for the first four years of the centre's operation is provided by the European Chips for Europe initiative and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic. 

"The establishment of the Czech Semiconductor Centre is a strategic step for the future of our country. It is a key project, thanks to which the Czech Republic will maintain its competitiveness, as well as its security and technological sovereignty at a time when these values are being fought over globally. Thanks to this, the Czech Republic has all the prerequisites to play in the European league in this key sector," said Prime Minister Petr Fiala.

"The establishment of the Czech Semiconductor Centre is the result of systematic efforts of the members of the founding consortium, which lasted more than one and a half years. During this time, it was necessary to carefully profile the focus of the Centre in areas where the Czech semiconductor industry has the potential to compete successfully not only in Europe, but also globally. It was possible to concentrate, connect and align the interests of all those involved in the Czech semiconductor industry on the platform of the National Semiconductor Cluster. Whether it is industry, state administration, regions or universities, which have a difficult task - to ensure sufficient personnel capacity for the Czech semiconductor industry through its graduates, which the BUT is working hard on, for example by opening specialized study programs," said Ladislav Janíček, Rector of Brno University of Technology (BUT).

For Brno University of Technology (BUT) semiconductors are an important strategic area, and hence BUT coordinated the preparation of the Czech Semiconductor Centre andand also ofered its premises for its headquoters. "I appreciate immensely the constructive cooperation between the members of the consortium that accompanied the birth of the centre, but also the support that the intention to create the centre received from political representations, but also from the regions - especially the South Moravian Region. I am very pleased that the concept of the centre, which we are inaugurating today, is not just a mere compromise, but a true reflection of the professional potential and competence that we have in our country in the semiconductor field. Therefore, the centre has a real opportunity to contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of the Czech economy in this sector and to support the fulfilment of the objectives of the newly adopted National Semiconductor Strategy. This was developed in parallel with the preparation of the Centre with significant input from the members of its founding consortium. I would like to see projects based primarily on expertise and competence succeed in our country on the road to a value-added economy based on knowledge and innovation. Just as I believe the Czech Semiconductor Centre has done," added Ladislav Janíček.

The  Czech Semiconductor Centre will provide qualified services according to the requirements of Chips for Europe in the field of chip design, especially for start-ups and small companies. It will provide private companies with mentoring, financial advice, access to pilot lines and a pan-European design platform. This will enable companies to develop new products faster and cheaper, facilitate testing and small-scale production.

Source: https://www.vut.cz/

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