MELEXIS GMBH

Their core work

Melexis GmbH (Erfurt) is a semiconductor company contributing to European pilot lines and IC development for automotive and industrial applications. They specialize in embedded memory technologies, microcontroller design, and ultra-low-power System-on-Chip (SoC) architectures. Their H2020 work focuses on advancing manufacturing processes for next-generation chips — from wafer-level micro-transfer-printing to embedding non-volatile memory and AI-ready storage into microcontrollers. They operate within the ECSEL (Electronic Components and Systems) ecosystem, collaborating with large consortia on industrialization-ready innovation actions.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Melexis GmbH's H2020 trajectory shows a clear progression from manufacturing process innovation toward intelligent chip design. Their earliest project (MICROPRINCE, 2017) focused on wafer-level fabrication techniques, while the middle phase (WAKeMeUP, 2018) shifted to embedding memory technologies into automotive processors. By their most recent project (StorAIge, 2021), the focus moved decisively toward AI-capable, ultra-low-power microcontrollers — reflecting the broader industry shift toward edge AI and smart embedded systems.

Melexis is moving toward AI-at-the-edge chip design, making them a relevant partner for projects needing intelligent, low-power embedded processing in automotive and IoT applications.

How they like to work

Melexis consistently participates as a partner rather than leading consortia, suggesting they contribute specialized semiconductor expertise within larger industry-driven initiatives. With 59 unique partners across 10 countries in just 3 projects, they operate in very large ECSEL-type consortia (typically 20+ partners). This means they are comfortable in complex, multi-stakeholder environments and likely contribute well-defined technical work packages rather than managing overall project direction.

Despite only 3 projects, Melexis has built connections with 59 distinct partners across 10 European countries — a result of participating in large ECSEL Joint Undertaking consortia that bring together the semiconductor value chain from foundries to end-users.

What sets them apart

Melexis GmbH brings industrial semiconductor manufacturing capability to European research consortia, bridging the gap between chip design concepts and pilot-line production. Their progression from wafer fabrication to AI-enabled MCU storage positions them at the intersection of hardware manufacturing and intelligent embedded systems. For consortium builders, they offer a proven industry partner with direct experience in ECSEL pilot line projects — valuable for any initiative requiring semiconductor prototyping and industrialization.

Highlights from their portfolio

• StorAIge
  Targets AI on the edge via next-generation MCU storage — positions Melexis at the frontier of embedded AI hardware, a high-growth area.
• WAKeMeUP
  Largest funded project (EUR 317K) combining multiple memory technologies (flash, phase change, FDSOI) for automotive-grade processors.
• MICROPRINCE
  Focused on micro-transfer-printing at wafer level — an advanced manufacturing technique for heterogeneous integration of functional components.