Millions in funding for new semiconductor test center

A new test center for semiconductor components is being built in Chemnitz for around 9.5 million euros. The money comes from EU funding programs. Until now, the capacities for testing semiconductors in Europe have been manageable, explained Harald Kuhn, Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Nano Systems (ENAS). "The service providers are mostly based in Asia."

The center will therefore close a gap - especially in view of the proximity to semiconductor manufacturers in the Dresden region. It is also intended to strengthen the training of specialists. The latest semiconductor chips are becoming increasingly complex and require new test and reliability methods, it was said. In addition, such test data is important for optimizing semiconductor production.

Europe is taking its test capacities for domestic chip research and industry to a new level with the center, said Science Minister Sebastian Gemkow (CDU). "This will enable it to take important development steps on the way to the next generation of chips here in Saxony."

The ENAS works at the interface between basic research and industry-related application research. "In combination with the training of specialists at Chemnitz University of Technology, a crucial link in Saxony's value chain in the semiconductor sector is being strengthened."