As FAMES project coordinator, it is my great pleasure to launch the first edition of the FAMES Newsletter.

FAMES is one of the Chips Act’s Pilot Lines, gathering eleven top research organizations and universities in Europe: CEA-Leti (France), VTT (Finland), Tyndall (Ireland) and Silicon Austria Lab (Austria), imec (Belgium), Fraunhofer (Germany), Cezamat WUT (Poland), UCLouvain (Belgium), Grenoble INP-UGA (France), SiNANO Institute (France) and Granada University (Spain). FAMES is designed to strengthen the European semiconductor industry and support strategic sectors such as automotive, telecommunications, cybersecurity, data centers, healthcare, and more. Our research work encompasses five key technologies – next node FD-SOI, 3D integration, embedded non-volatile memories (eNVM), radio frequency components, and integrated power management circuits – with a strong focus on performance and energy efficiency. FAMES is equally supported by the European Chips Act and the national public authorities of the partners involved, with an overall investment of €830 million over five years (2023-2028).

Today, we are pleased to roll out the FAMES’ Newsletter, which will provide regular updates on the project’s research highlights, user access opportunities, training programmes and FAMES upcoming events – along with spotlights on our partners, industry links, and synergies with other Chips JU initiatives. With this newsletter, you will not only discover what we do, but also who we are: going forward, this editorial will become a rotating Partners’ corner offering FAMES partners the opportunity to present their expertise and contributions to the project.

In this context, as the leading partner of the FAMES Pilot Line, let me introduce CEA-Leti, which is a renowned Research and Technology Organisation (RTO) located in Grenoble, France. CEA-Leti is focussed on micro- and nano-electronics and technologies. Created in 1967 and employing more than 2,100 employees, it holds a portfolio of 3,400 patents and cutting-edge expertise. CEA-Leti operates 11,700m³ of clean room, and aims at impacting the industry ecosystem with more than 300 partnerships and the launch of over 80 startups.

With the support of the France 2030 national funding initiative, CEA-Leti is currently investing in a new 2,000 m² cleanroom and with the additional support of FAMES CEA-Leti is acquiring over 80 state-of-the-art tools, most of them in 300 mm. CEA-Leti is involved in the development of all technologies of the project mentioned and its eco-innovation activities, not to mention the communication, training and coordination of FAMES. CEA-Leti also manages the open access of the Pilot Line, fostering its industrial impact.

I hope you will enjoy reading this Newsletter, which highlights key aspects of our work.

Regards,
Dr Dominique Noguet, FAMES Project Coordinator.