The European Chip Design Platform, or EuroCDP, launched in Brussels on November 4, 2026. The European Commission says it plans to mobilize €525 million to help European firms design chips.
The platform brings together tools, funds and access to chip plants, according to the Industrial Alliance for Semiconductors. The alliance says these resources are costly and hard for small firms to get on their own.
EuroCDP grants for young firms
The alliance says young startups can receive grants of up to €100,000 as they work toward seed funding. More mature firms can receive up to €16 million as they prepare a larger round. Thus, the two grant limits apply at different stages of growth.
According to the alliance, research group imec leads the team that runs the cloud-based hub. The Chips Joint Undertaking implements it under the EU Chips Act. European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen took part in the launch.
Design tools and shared services
EuroCDP says its hub will bring design software, expert help, training and testing services into one place. It also gives firms access to reusable parts of chip designs. The platform says shared tools and terms agreed in advance should make chip design simpler and less costly.
For example, EuroCDP says a deal with Keysight gives firms access to software for chip design. The tools help engineers design and test circuits. The deal also includes training for startups and small and medium-sized firms, according to EuroCDP.
EuroCDP says license costs, computing needs and contract talks have kept these tools out of reach for young teams. Keysight’s tools cover radio-frequency circuits and high-speed digital design. They also let teams model how devices behave, according to the platform.
The alliance says EuroCDP will offer access to chip plants as well as design support and funds. Its stated goal is to help European chip design startups grow.
Sources: European Commission, Industrial Alliance for Semiconductors, EuroCDP platform, EuroCDP Keysight agreement
