Macquarie University Leads New Semiconductor Training Centre to Boost Chip Design Skills

Macquarie University is set to lead the new ARC Advanced Integrated Circuits Training Centre, aiming to train integrated circuit designers and strengthen domestic chip-design capability across Australia. The initiative is being led by Professor Iain Collings with support from Professor Mike Boers.

The training centre is a collaborative effort involving researchers from Macquarie University, The University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales, and Adelaide University. It also involves a network of industry partners, including Cochlear, Diraq, Millibeam, Quasar Satellite Technologies, and the Australian Semiconductor Technology Company, among others.

According to the university, research initiatives at the centre will focus on developing advanced integrated circuits for emerging sectors such as satellite internet, radiation-hardened space technology, low-power artificial intelligence systems, quantum devices, and advanced sensing technologies. A primary technical focus will be mixed-signal integrated circuit design, which integrates analogue signals with digital processing on a single piece of silicon.

Professor Collings stated that the global market for integrated circuits is approaching $1 trillion and emphasized the necessity of developing domestic skills to ensure Australia is not left behind.

The centre plans to support a cohort of PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers, offering specialized instruction and industry experience to build long-term semiconductor capabilities. Australian Research Council (ARC) Chief Executive Officer Professor Ute Roessner noted that these research hubs and training centres are designed to unite researchers and industry partners to address complex challenges and create economic opportunities.

In addition to the semiconductor initiative, Macquarie University is also participating as a partner in the ARC Training Centre in Engineering Biology for Sustainable Materials. Led by The Australian National University, that separate centre includes a Macquarie research team led by Professor Ian Paulsen focusing on developing sustainable materials.

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