Chip design has attracted growing attention in Europe in recent years. This momentum was clearly visible last week, when DTU hosted a two-day summer school on chip design for PhD students, followed by the international conference Async 2026 (The International Symposium on Asynchronous Circuits and Systems).
Participants came not only from Denmark, but also from Canada, France, Japan, China, Spain, the United Kingdom, Taiwan and the United States. Most were university researchers, alongside representatives from a small number of companies.
The heightened interest reflects a broader European agenda. The pandemic exposed the continent's reliance on mass-produced chips from factories in Southeast Asia and the United States, when production slowdowns and disrupted supply chains delayed the manufacturing of nearly all digital devices. These microchips – made from semiconductors such as silicon – are essential components in integrated circuits that power everything from smartphones and computers to everyday household appliances.
In response, the European Union has launched the Chips Act 2.0, aiming to strengthen the development and production of microchips within Europe and bring more of the value chain back to European soil. As a result, reinforcing the chip design ecosystem has become a strategic priority, and DTU has expanded its educational offerings in this field.
Insightful discussions and fresh ideas
"It was very nice to meet a wide range of fellow researchers, to attend exciting talks, and to see the cutting-edge work being carried out in the community. Having so many engaged participants and lively discussions clearly shows that this symposium strengthens the community and brings people together to collaborate," said Assistant Professor Ole Richter from the Embedded Systems Engineering section at DTU Compute, who organised the conference together with Professor Emeritus Jens Sparsø.
"All the insightful discussions I had with colleagues and collaborators have made me eager to return to my research with fresh ideas and new collaborative opportunities," Ole Richter added.
The William Demant Foundation has provided financial support for both the Summer School and the Symposium.
