$5 million to strengthen Australian chip design capability

A $5 million investment will establish a new training centre focused on advanced integrated circuit design, targeting skills and technologies needed to strengthen Australia’s semiconductor capabilities. The ARC Training Centre for Advanced Integrated Circuits, led by Macquarie University, will bring together university researchers and industry partners to develop chip-design expertise for applications across communications, AI, space technologies and sensing.

Under the leadership of Professor Iain Collings, with support from Professor Mike Boers, the centre will train the next generation of integrated circuit designers.

“The worldwide market for integrated circuits is heading towards a $1 trillion market and Australia really risks being left behind. It is absolutely vital for us to build our skills in this area,” Collings said.

A key focus will be mixed-signal integrated circuit design, which combines analog signals from the physical world with digital processing to create smarter, more efficient technologies. Technical priorities include the development of advanced integrated circuits for a range of applications, such as satellite internet, radiation-hardened chips for space technologies, quantum devices and advanced sensing technologies.

“As processing demands become ever more challenging, it is increasingly critical for the analog and digital sub-systems of a chip to be integrated. If you can do both analog and digital processing on one piece of silicon, it can be smaller, more efficient, and have better battery life. We’re enabling Australia’s digital future by training the next generation of chip designers, to have a transformational impact on Australian industry,” Collings said.

The centre is expected to support a cohort of PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers, providing specialised training and industry experience while building Australia’s long-term semiconductor capability.

The centre will involve researchers from Macquarie University, the University of Sydney, University of New South Wales and Adelaide University, working alongside industry partners across the semiconductor sector. The industry partners include Atto Devices, Australian Semiconductor Technology Company, Cochlear, Cuvos, Deteqt, Diraq, Emergence Quantum, Millibeam, Perceptia Devices Australia, Quasar Satellite Technologies and Tectal Systems Australia.

By developing highly skilled chip designers and strengthening collaboration between universities and industry, the centre aims to help position Australia to play a larger role in the technologies that will drive future economic growth and innovation.

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