The pilot line will develop five new sets of technologies:

• FD-SOI (with two new generation nodes at 10nm and 7nm),
• Several types of embedded non-volatile memories (OxRAM, FeRAM, MRAM and FeFETs),
• Radio-frequency components (switches, filters and capacitors),
• Two 3D integration options (heterogeneous integration and sequential integration), and
• Small inductors to develop DC-DC converters for Power Management Integrated Circuits (PMIC). ​

Invented by CEA-Leti, FD-SOI is a planar CMOS technology that offers the best PPAC-E (Performance, Power, Area, Cost and Environmental impact) for mixed circuits (mixing digital, analogue and radio-frequency blocks). FD-SOI has been adopted by global semiconductor leaders due to its tight electrostatic control at the transistor level and because it is well suited for highly innovative power-management technologies.

The booming FD-SOI market is therefore anticipating the 10nm and 7nm next-generation nodes.
No less than 43 companies throughout the electronic-systems value chain, from materials providers and equipment manufacturers to fabless companies, EDAs, IDMs, system houses and end-users from ITC, automotive, medical device or space and security markets, have formally expressed their support for the FAMES initiative, prefiguring a vibrant ecosystem of start-ups, SMEs and other global industry leaders.

“By integrating and combining a set of cutting-edge technologies, the FAMES Pilot Line will open the door to disruptive system-on-chip architectures and provide smarter, greener and more efficient solutions for future chips. The FAMES project will indeed pay special attention to semiconductor sustainability challenges," said Jean-René Lèquepeys, CTO of CEA-Leti.

"The Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU) is proud to contribute to this strategic initiative and strengthen the EU's sovereignty in a critical domain. This pilot line will advance essential semiconductor technologies, while maintaining a strong focus on sustainability, and foster the collaboration between several European actors. The Chips JU aims to act as a catalyst and a model for further public and private collaborations in key areas," explained Jari Kinaret, the Chips JU Executive Director.

The FAMES Consortium brings together an outstanding group of partners: the pilot line coordinator, CEA-Leti (France), imec (Belgium), Fraunhofer Mikroelektronik (Germany), Tyndall (Ireland), VTT (Finland), CEZAMAT WUT (Poland), UCLouvain (Belgium), Silicon Austria Labs (Austria), SiNANO Institute (France), Grenoble INP-UGA (France) and the University of Granada (Spain).

The five new technologies will create market opportunities for low-power microcontrollers (MCU), multi-processor units (MPU), cutting-edge AI and machine learning devices, smart data-fusion processors, RF devices, chips for 5G/6G, chips for automotive markets, smart sensors and imagers, trusted chips and new space components.

​The pilot line will be accessible to all EU stakeholders (universities, RTOs, SMEs and industrial companies) and all like-minded countries through annual open calls and upon request, following a fair and non-discriminatory selection process.

​The project will benefit from a total of 830 M€ in funding, provided in equal parts by participating member states and the Chips JU.

The kick-off meeting took place in Grenoble at CEA-Leti's headquarters, preceding the start of Leti Innovation Days June 25-27.