FORTE Project Tapeout Rounds 5+

Tender description

The fabrication for integrated circuits on the EPSRC Project FORTE (Functional Oxide Reconfigurable Technologies) Lot 1: This procurement is for fabrication of integrated circuits on the EPSRC Project FORTE (Functional Oxide Reconfigurable Technologies, details here: https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/projects/functional-oxide-reconfigurable-technologies-forte-a-programme-gr). This is the fifth engineering run, known as a “tape out” for this project. To support our integrated circuit design research within the FORTE project, all tape-outs must be processed in the same way to ensure continuity of materials, processes and quality to ensure continuity of research. The tape-out must be processed through EUROPRACTICE, utilizing imec as the intermediary to access TSMC's fabrication services which are otherwise not available to any other customer in Europe and the UK. The design is built using TSMC’s proprietary Process Design Kit and specific IP libraries that are licensed exclusively for use with TSMC fabrication. The specific combinations of technical characteristics is a niche configuration. No other manufacturer can provide an identical technical match that meets the safety, interoperability, and performance requirements. As such, there is currently only 1 supplier who can provide a product that meets the University’s requirements.