Europractice and STFC Overview
IEEE Meeting – 5 December 2011
Dr John A McLean
Head, Microelectronics Support Centre
Science & Technology Facilities Council
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK
Introduction
• What is
• Europractice?
• STFC?
• How can STFC via the Europractice programme promote IEEE
standards in Electronic Systems and Microelectronic Design to
European universities?
2
Microelectronics Support Centre
Europractice?
• EC project to promote and support Electronics Systems and
Microelectronics Design to European Academic community
•
•
•
•
It is a Project – part financially supported by the European Union
Not an Organisation
Not a Legal Entity
Unlike initiatives elsewhere, it is primarily End-User funded
• Objective is to assist the European Academic community
• Train future engineers
• Undertake research and innovation
that is more relevant to the needs of industry
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Microelectronics Support Centre
Europractice?
• Europractice project
• Well established
• Began in 1989 (then called Eurochip)
• Since 1995 it has been called Europractice
• Europractice project has 3 long-standing partners who work
together
• IMEC, Belgium
• Fraunhofer IIS, Germany
• IC fabrication service using MPWs (similar to MOSIS in US)
• STFC, UK
• Organise the Europractice Membership (academic customer base)
• Design Tool and Programmable/Reconfigurable Platform service
4
Microelectronics Support Centre
STFC?
 STFC is one of seven UK Research Councils
 Science and Technology Facilities Council
 An independent, non-departmental public body
of the Dept for Business Innovation and Skills
(BIS)
 Established by Royal Charter as an independent
legal body, outside of Government, but
accountable to Parliament

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Joint facilities – For example, the new research
complex on the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
site
Microelectronics Support Centre
STFC?
• STFC (Science and Technology Facilities Council) has 5 UK
locations
• Swindon – headquarters (same location as most of the other UK
research councils)
• Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) – Oxfordshire
• (one of largest multi-disciplinary research laboratories in Europe)
• Daresbury Laboratory - Cheshire
• Chilbolton Observatory - Hampshire
• UK Astronomy Technology Centre - Edinburgh
• Organised in various departments, e.g.
•
•
•
•
•
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Technology – Engineering at RAL & Daresbury + UK ATC
Space Science
Photon science
e-Science
…
Microelectronics Support Centre
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
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Microelectronics Support Centre
Europractice IC Service Structure
In operation for >20 years!
Maintain 2 separate web sites to
ensure that the high volume of
customer transactions for
Design Tools and MPW
activities do not get mixed up!
1989 – 1995 Eurochip
1995 onwards Europractice
www.europractice.stfc.ac.uk
www.europractice-ic.com
Software Service - Design tools
for European Academics
and Research Laboratories
(Microelectronics / Microsystems
based System Design
- not just ASICs)
MPW and small volume
IC/MEMs fabrication service
(open to academics and industry
world-wide)
IMEC, Fraunhofer IIS
STFC/RAL
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Microelectronics Support Centre
Europractice Design Tool Service
Software Service
EUROPRACTICE Membership
+
CAD tools
for European Academics
and Research Laboratories
(Modern Microelectronics
System Design - not just ASICs)
STFC/RAL
Microelectronics Support Centre
Europractice Design Tool Portfolio
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Microelectronics Support Centre
Europractice Member INSTITUTES
•
•
Membership administered by
STFC/RAL
Currently 640 INSTITUTES
• 512 universities
• 128 research institutes
in 44 countries close to Europe
have current support contracts
for design tools
•
Common design infrastructure
across Europe
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Microelectronics Support Centre
IEEE and Europractice
• STFC (within the framework of Europractice) has contacts and
contracts with 640 European academic institutions (including
512 universities)
• All are Members of Europractice
• All use the STFC/RAL supported Europractice Design Tools
• Design tool contracts are with STFC not Europractice
• (~ 411 use the IMEC/Fraunhofer IIS fabrication services)
• Europractice (via STFC) addresses
• Virtually all European major academic institutions engaged in
Electronic Systems and Microelectronic Design research and training
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Microelectronics Support Centre
Questions?
1.
Promote collaboration of the two organizations through his newsletter to the
member universities, EuroPractice website
•
Can we provide an article? How long? When does Europractice need it? When
will it be published? How will we know its impact?
•
Should we sign an MoU? Do a joint press release?
Specifically, promote SEC Student Application paper (mini-grant) to EuroPractice
member universities
•
We would like 5 papers from Europractice members in 2012. What steps can
Europractice take to achieve this?
Train-the-trainer seminar/workshop/event about IEEE Standards and its inclusion in
curriculum – possibly with David Law as a speaker in person (due to geographic
proximity)
•
When can this seminar be? Can Europractice write the abstract/invite for it?
How can IEEE provide support?
Include write up about our collaboration in SEC eZine; possibly other channels at
IEEE, IEEE-SA
•
Can Europractice provide IEEE an article about its activities? January issue? If
no, March/April.
2.
3.
4.
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Microelectronics Support Centre