Chips JU / European Chips Design Platform (EuroCDP)
Under Pillar 1 of the Chips Act (the Chips for Europe Initiative), the Chips Joint Undertaking funds design infrastructure open to companies: the European Chips Design Platform provides cloud-based EDA tools, IP libraries, design enablement, and routes to prototyping. Consortium calls require an EU partner and national co-funding.
Key parameters
| Platform services | Cloud-based EDA tools, IP libraries, design enablement, prototyping access |
|---|---|
| Consortium requirement | EU partner and national co-funding for calls (tripartite model) |
| Backing | Chips for Europe Initiative — €3.3bn EU funds, matched by member states |
| Platform status | Rollout ongoing (2026) |
Eligibility
- HQ
- Applying entity must be established in the EU or an associated country
- Local presence
- Separate legal entity required The applicant must be a separate legal person (e.g. GmbH, BV, SARL) — a branch office of a foreign company does not qualify here.
- R&D substance
- Not required
- Company size
- No size restriction
- Models
- Fabless design, IP licensing, IDM, EDA / tools
- Sectors
- All
- Goals
- Additional design site in Europe; R&D cooperation without own site; Access to pilot lines & prototyping
Platform access (EDA/IP) has lighter conditions than consortium funding, which requires an EU-established partner and matching national co-funding through the Chips JU tripartite model.
Mechanism & application
Hybrid — Rule-based core with additional administrative steps.
Platform access via EuroCDP onboarding; funding via Chips JU calls (consortium applications with national funding agency involvement).
Timeline: Platform access: weeks. Calls: 6–12 months.
Legal basis & sources
- Legal basis
- Chips JU (Council Regulation (EU) 2023/1782); Chips Act Reg. (EU) 2023/1781, Pillar 1; annual work programmes
- Verification
- chips-ju.europa.eu / Chips Act Reg. 2023/1781 (Pillar 1); work programmes