Purdue University is collaborating with the state of Indiana, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the international R&D center imec to introduce Chipshub, an online platform aimed at advancing semiconductor research, development, and manufacturing in the United States. This initiative builds upon Purdue's successful nanoHUB project, which has provided cloud-based access to scientific simulation tools for over 20,000 users annually. The Chipshub platform offers a wide range of chip design tools, immersive learning applications, virtual reality experiences, open courseware, and free textbooks to support the development of more than 200,000 engineering students and approximately 50,000 designers over the next five years.
Chipshub, led by co-directors Gerhard Klimeck and Alejandro Strachan, extends nanoHUB's success by providing both open-source and commercial software to support the semiconductor community's workforce development at scale. It also allows access to commercial EDA tools from leading companies such as Cadence, Synopsys, and Siemens, which are traditionally challenging for universities to license, install, and maintain. This collaborative effort aims to remove barriers associated with installing and maintaining complex software and workflows required for modeling, simulating, and designing the next generation of semiconductor technology.
Moreover, Purdue's significant investments in microelectronics research and semiconductor workforce development, along with its strong industry partnerships, support Chipshub's mission to support onshoring semiconductor fabrication and packaging in the United States. The platform also leverages Purdue's expertise in offering a comprehensive set of interdisciplinary degrees and credentials in semiconductors and microelectronics to students nationwide.
Through partnerships with private-sector fabs, Chipshub will foster actual chip manufacturing, enabling students to architect, design, optimize, and test chips in a single platform. This initiative aims to disseminate essential knowledge and tools to advance American technology and workforce education in the semiconductor sector, which is crucial for powering national competitiveness in the global economy. Overall, Chipshub represents an important step in Purdue's efforts to drive innovation and content delivery, particularly in the semiconductor and other cutting-edge technology sectors.
