Czech Semiconductor Centre Opens in Brno, Enhancing Europe's Chip Independence

Launch of the Czech Semiconductor Centre in Brno

On April 9, 2025, a pivotal advancement in Europe’s semiconductor autonomy was realized with the opening of the Czech Semiconductor Centre (CSC) in Brno. Positioned in one of Europe’s most vibrant regions for chip design, the CSC aims to bolster innovation, prototyping, and support the growth of fabless European companies. This center acts as the Czech Republic's national competence center according to the European Chips Act, strategically aiming to reduce Europe’s dependency on external semiconductor supply chains.

The CSC is a collaborative effort between the Brno University of Technology, the Czech Technical University in Prague, onsemi, Codasip, the Czech National Semiconductor Cluster, and the innovation agency JIC. Together, these entities are set to foster a European hub of excellence in chip design, education, talent development, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

This new center will provide invaluable resources to fabless European companies by offering mentoring, financial assistance, access to advanced design tools, prototyping platforms, and small-scale chip production. All these elements are crucial for the growth of SMEs involved in semiconductor design and instrumentation, while also working to minimize reliance on foreign supply chains. The CSC will leverage the extensive expertise present in the Brno area concerning IP design and the development of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools, as well as in-depth material research and characterization.

Brno boasts a particularly distinctive role in the semiconductor landscape, primarily due to its prominence in electron microscopy—a technology critical for the development, manufacturing, and quality control of semiconductors throughout their lifecycle. According to Petr Strelec, director of the Brno site at Thermo Fisher Scientific, "One in three electron microscopes used globally comes from Brno. This concentration of expertise in electron microscopy provides a strategic advantage for Europe’s semiconductor ambitions, especially regarding supply chain resilience."

The city hosts global leaders in electron microscopy including Thermo Fisher Scientific, Tescan, and Delong Instruments. In 2023, these companies exported a remarkable 93% of their production and have heavily invested in research and development, solidifying the region's reputation in high-tech applications.

Furthermore, in 2023, South Moravia became the first Czech member of the European Semiconductor Regions Alliance, underscoring the relevance of the Czech semiconductor ecosystem, with Brno as its nucleus, to the European strategy aimed at reducing dependence on non-European chip production.

Karel Masarik, director of the CSC and founder of Codasip, a company specializing in RISC-V processors, commented, "The Czech semiconductor ecosystem, with Brno at its heart, is a crucial component of the European strategy to lessen dependency on non-European chip manufacturing. The unique combination of Brno's chip design expertise and complementary technologies, such as electron microscopy, contributes essential capabilities to Europe’s semiconductor value chain."

As the Czech Semiconductor Centre begins its operations, it not only symbolizes technological hope for Europe but also stands as a testament to collaborative growth, innovation, and a more self-reliant future in semiconductor technology.