Europe, and therefore the Czech Republic, faces the challenge of becoming less dependent on imports of chips and semiconductor components from risky territories. The development of the semiconductor industry in Europe is based on the European agreement on chips, the so-called EU Chips Act. In the Czech Republic, it is based on the National Semiconductor Strategy, recently approved by the Czech Government. The strategy is intended to lead to the establishment of a stable and efficient domestic research, development and production base in the field of semiconductors and semiconductor technologies, which would enable the prevention of future crises caused by supply shortages of strategic technologies, including semiconductor ones.

The ACDRC is a platform for cooperation between the Czech Republic and Taiwan and also a platform for cooperation between three leading Czech universities.The project is coordinated by NARLabs National Applied Science Laboratories in Taiwan and CyberSecurityHubcz in the Czech Republic.The Cyber Security Hub is a registered institute founded by three leading universities collaborating in the field of semiconductors: the Czech Technical University in Prague, the Brno University of Technology and Masaryk University.The ACDRC is a project of the CSH to contribute to the technological development of the semiconductor industry, to promote professional development and human resource capacity building for the semiconductor industry and to support the transfer of research results into practice.

The Center focuses on coordinating and promoting education and research collaboration with Taiwanese partners in the areas of chip design and semiconductor technologies, which are now an integral part of the technology industry and a key enabler of global industrial transformation. The development of the semiconductor industry ecosystem will help enhance the country's global competitiveness. The ACDRC Centre for Cooperation with Taiwan is established within the Cyber Security Hub, z.ú. as part of the semiconductor ecosystem in the country.

"The semiconductor industry has become one of the strategic priorities for the Czech Republic today.It is undoubtedly one of the sectors with high added value based on knowledge and innovation, which contributes to the knowledge-based profiling of the national economy.The Czech Republic already occupies an important sixth place in the European value chain in the field of semiconductors and is one of the key players, especially in the segment of chip design and their applications in various industrial areas, e.g. electron microscopy, in which it is even the world leader, but also in the automotive industry and power electronics.In addition to investments, it is necessary to develop know-how in the field of semiconductor technologies in all parts of the value chain, starting with the design of advanced chips for specific applications, research and development of materials to semiconductor manufacturing and especially to prepare a qualified workforce", said Ladislav Janíček, Rector of Brno University of Technology, adding: "therefore, the unifying line of all ongoing semiconductor initiatives, in addition to technological and materials research and development in the field of semiconductors, is clearly primarily the development of human resources aimed at expanding their human capacity, especially in the Czech Republic.And it is the role of universities that are coming together to coordinate their educational and research activities for this purpose".

The ACDRC project supports deeper cooperation between Taiwan and the Czech Republic and is the first pillar of the 2022-2026 Taiwan-Czech Democratic Partners Supply Chain Resilience and Capacity Building Cooperation Plan. The emerging centre is intended to contribute to the development of human resources and know-how for the semiconductor industry in both countries. The ACDRC is intended to connect experts, facilitate communication, internships and mobility of students as well as academic and research staff from the Czech Republic and Taiwan.

"The opening of this centre, primarily focused on joint research activities between Taiwanese entities and Czech universities, opens up further opportunities for sharing knowledge in the field of semiconductors.At the level of equal partners on both sides, which we are, there is a great potential for long-term and successful cooperation in multiple areas and levels, " said Radek Holý, Vice-Rector for Quality Management of CTU, commenting on the opening of the Centre for Advanced Design and Research in Chip Technologies. Rector of CTU Vojtěch Petráček added: "Cooperation with Taiwanese partners in the field of semiconductor technologies and talent training is a very important element of our educational and research strategy for CTU, contributing to the strategic independence of the Czech Republic and the European Union.We welcome the opening of ACDRC in this area of cooperation and are ready to fulfill the project".

The opening of the ACDRC was also attended by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Markéta Adamová Pekarová. "In the long term, I consider the opening of the Advanced Chip Research Centre here in Brno to be important because it will further help deepen relations between democratic partners - the Czech Republic and Taiwan, " she said and continued: "The Advanced Chip Research Centre is another important milestone and will significantly improve our cooperation in the strategic area of advanced chips, on which all areas of human activity depend today."

During his trip to Taiwan,the President of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Miloš Vystrčil, was asked what the Czech Republic would get out of it. "Apart from the fact that I am convinced that free and democratic countries should support each other, this is exactly what I want to see: the opening of the ACDRC centre.Today we are faced with a huge opportunity that we will firmly seize, we will seize it in a way that significantly advances our capabilities in smart technology and in value-added manufacturing, or we won't." He said and followed up: "Taiwan is an absolute leader in chip manufacturing and is willing to work with us, not least because of our level of capability.This didn't just happen by itself.This is the result of the trust we have managed to build between the Czech Republic and Taiwan.But the success of continuing this cooperation no longer lies in the hands of politicians, it lies with you - the representatives of universities and industry."

In the area of education, the cooperation between the Czech and Taiwanese sides focuses on coordination and support of education in the field of chip design and semiconductor technologies in order to prepare new professionals, especially in postgraduate forms of education, which build on the education obtained in the framework of master's and doctoral studies at Czech universities. The Centre will also offer a scholarship programme, organisation of advanced courses in cooperation with universities in the Czech Republic and Taiwan, organisation of lectures for high school students, summer and winter schools and other educational events. In the field of research, the main objective of the ACDRC is to create conditions between the Czech Republic and Taiwan for the effective use of knowledge and experience and to promote innovation, knowledge transfer and cooperation between academia and industry. In cooperation with universities, the Centre coordinates the implementation of several research projects, including the development of AI processor for the automotive industry or hardware security technology, for example. Other research areas supported include chip cybersecurity, a backend tool for electrical automation of integrated circuit design, on-chip artificial intelligence, bio-chips and quality control and testing devices for SiC technology. The research and educational activities will primarily take place at the participating universities in Brno and Prague, where specialized laboratories will be expanded. These will support individual research activities with Taiwanese partners.

Taiwanese investments are also contributing to the development of the semiconductor ecosystem in Europe. These are mainly concentrated in Germany, but support in this area is also heading to the Czech Republic. This support is mainly directed towards education, research and development activities in the semiconductor sector.

In the Czech Republic, the semiconductor ecosystem is represented by the Czech National Semiconductor Cluster, which brings together the most important companies and institutions, including universities, that cover this technological chain. In order to develop this ecosystem and to link it to the European network of cooperation in the field of semiconductors, a National Competence Centre for Semiconductors is being built, the project of which has been submitted to the European Commission for approval on behalf of the Czech Republic. This is expected within a few months, at the latest in the first quarter of 2025. The National Competence Centre project is backed by the country's two leading technical universities, Brno University of Technology and Czech Technical University in Prague, Onsemi and Codasip, the Czech National Semiconductor Cluster and the JIC Innovation Agency. The project is coordinated by the Brno University of Technology. Recently, a memorandum of cooperation between CTU, BUT and the University of West Bohemia was also signed to strengthen the cooperation between academic institutions in the field of semiconductor applications, including power electronics, where the University of West Bohemia is also a major player.

The ACDRC as an expression of cooperation between CTU, BUT and MUNI within the Cyber Security Hub, z.ú. becomes another part of this semiconductor ecosystem in the Czech Republic.

Photo: Tomáš Hájek

Courtesy of: Vysoké učení technické v Brně

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