The Design Platform call was launched on 13 August 2025, with a total EU budget of €25M. The CSA for the Design Platform is fully funded by the JU through the Digital Europe programme.

For Europe to sustainably reach its Digital Decade target of 20% market share in semiconductors, and to attract more manufacturing facilities, more chip design activities are required. A critical mass of fabless semiconductor companies is key to generate demand that would justify further investment in semiconductor manufacturing capacity in Europe.

To this end, this initiative will build a pioneering platform, designed to democratise access to cutting-edge chip design technologies. The Design Platform shall serve as a catalyst for the cultivation and expansion of a chip design ecosystem in Europe. By providing centralised tools, 60 Regulation (EU) 2021/694 of 29 April 2021 establishing the Digital Europe Programme and repealing Decision (EU) 2015/2240 Appendix 4 99 EUROPEAN PARTNERSHIP resources and support, the Design Platform aims to inspire innovation and propel competitiveness in Europe’s semiconductor industry. It will facilitate equal opportunities for innovation across the industry, enabling both small and large entities to drive technologies.

The European Chips Act emphasises how fostering the growth of chip design in Europe is a priority, vital for boosting the competitiveness of the European Union’s semiconductor industry. The Design Platform is at the heart of Pillar 1 of the Chips Act, serving as an interface and entry point to the other activities of the Chips for Europe Initiative. It is envisaged as the key instrument to foster the development of a strong design ecosystem in Europe, by creating a pipeline of highly innovative European fabless companies (particularly start-ups and SMEs). Furthermore, the Design Platform shall enable users to prototype and eventually manufacture their designs at leading foundries.

The call for the Design Platform (Chips-2024-CDP-1) includes a call for expression of interest for the selection of the hosting consortium for the central infrastructure (Chips-2024-CFEOICDP-1), and a CSA for the coordination of the Design Platform (Chips-2024-CSA-CDP-1).