Europractice and STFC Overview IEEE Meeting – 5 December 2011 Dr John A McLean Head, Microelectronics Support Centre Science & Technology Facilities Council Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK

Microelectronics Support Centre Introduction What is Europractice? STFC? How can STFC via the Europractice programme promote IEEE standards in Electronic Systems and Microelectronic Design to European universities? 2

Microelectronics Support Centre Europractice? EC project to promote and support Electronics Systems and Microelectronics Design to European Academic community It is a Project – part financially supported by the European Union Not an Organisation Not a Legal Entity Unlike initiatives elsewhere, it is primarily End-User funded Objective is to assist the European Academic community Train future engineers Undertake research and innovation that is more relevant to the needs of industry 3

Microelectronics Support Centre Europractice? Europractice project Well established Began in 1989 (then called Eurochip) Since 1995 it has been called Europractice Europractice project has 3 long-standing partners who work together IMEC, Belgium Fraunhofer IIS, Germany IC fabrication service using MPWs (similar to MOSIS in US) STFC, UK Organise the Europractice Membership (academic customer base) Design Tool and Programmable/Reconfigurable Platform service 4

Microelectronics Support Centre STFC? 5  STFC is one of seven UK Research Councils  Science and Technology Facilities Council  An independent, non-departmental public body of the Dept for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS)  Established by Royal Charter as an independent legal body, outside of Government, but accountable to Parliament  Joint facilities – For example, the new research complex on the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory site

Microelectronics Support Centre STFC? STFC (Science and Technology Facilities Council) has 5 UK locations Swindon – headquarters (same location as most of the other UK research councils) Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) – Oxfordshire (one of largest multi-disciplinary research laboratories in Europe) Daresbury Laboratory - Cheshire Chilbolton Observatory - Hampshire UK Astronomy Technology Centre - Edinburgh Organised in various departments, e.g. Technology – Engineering at RAL & Daresbury + UK ATC Space Science Photon science e-Science … 6

Microelectronics Support Centre Rutherford Appleton Laboratory 7

Microelectronics Support Centre MPW and small volume IC/MEMs fabrication service IC/MEMs fabrication service (open to academics and industry world-wide) IMEC, Fraunhofer IIS In operation for >20 years! 1989 – 1995 Eurochip 1995 onwards Europractice Software Service - Design tools for European Academics and Research Laboratories (Microelectronics / Microsystems based System Design - not just ASICs) STFC/RAL Maintain 2 separate web sites to ensure that the high volume of customer transactions for Design Tools and MPW activities do not get mixed up! Europractice IC Service Structure 8

Microelectronics Support Centre Europractice Design Tool Service Software Service EUROPRACTICE Membership + CAD tools for European Academics and Research Laboratories (Modern Microelectronics System Design - not just ASICs) STFC/RAL

Microelectronics Support Centre Europractice Design Tool Portfolio 10

Microelectronics Support Centre Europractice Member INSTITUTES Membership administered by STFC/RAL Currently 640 INSTITUTES 512 universities 128 research institutes in 44 countries close to Europe have current support contracts for design tools Common design infrastructure across Europe 11

Microelectronics Support Centre IEEE and Europractice STFC (within the framework of Europractice) has contacts and contracts with 640 European academic institutions (including 512 universities) All are Members of Europractice All use the STFC/RAL supported Europractice Design Tools Design tool contracts are with STFC not Europractice (~ 411 use the IMEC/Fraunhofer IIS fabrication services) Europractice (via STFC) addresses Virtually all European major academic institutions engaged in Electronic Systems and Microelectronic Design research and training 12

Microelectronics Support Centre Questions? 1.Promote collaboration of the two organizations through his newsletter to the member universities, EuroPractice website Can we provide an article? How long? When does Europractice need it? When will it be published? How will we know its impact? Should we sign an MoU? Do a joint press release? 2.Specifically, promote SEC Student Application paper (mini-grant) to EuroPractice member universities We would like 5 papers from Europractice members in What steps can Europractice take to achieve this? 3.Train-the-trainer seminar/workshop/event about IEEE Standards and its inclusion in curriculum – possibly with David Law as a speaker in person (due to geographic proximity) When can this seminar be? Can Europractice write the abstract/invite for it? How can IEEE provide support? 4.Include write up about our collaboration in SEC eZine; possibly other channels at IEEE, IEEE-SA Can Europractice provide IEEE an article about its activities? January issue? If no, March/April. 13