ADMONT · Project

One-Stop Chip Manufacturing Pilot Line Combining Sensors, Displays, and Smart Systems in Dresden

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Imagine you need a custom chip that combines a sensor, a tiny display, and processing power — all in one package. Normally you'd have to shop around different factories across continents and wait months. ADMONT connected several specialized chip-making facilities in Dresden, Germany, so they work like a single factory. You place one order and get a finished smart chip — sensors, optics, computing — all integrated, with short turnaround because everything is within driving distance.

By the numbers

consortium partners across the distributed pilot line

countries contributing manufacturing and research capabilities

industry partners with real manufacturing capacity

SMEs in the consortium

86%

industry ratio — one of the highest in EU chip manufacturing projects

key application domains: smart energy, smart mobility, smart health, smart production

The business problem

What needed solving

Companies developing smart products (IoT sensors, automotive modules, energy management systems) face a fragmented semiconductor supply chain — getting sensors, displays, and processors integrated into one chip means coordinating multiple specialized fabs across different countries, with long lead times and high coordination costs. There is no single European facility that combines all More-than-Moore technologies under one roof with fast turnaround.

The solution

What was built

ADMONT built a distributed semiconductor pilot line in Dresden connecting 14 partners into a single production flow for More-than-Moore chips — combining sensors, OLED displays, and CMOS processing with 2.5D and 3D integration. Key demonstrated deliverables include a virtual pilot line interface prototype (D6.7) with MES and automation solutions, and a real-time factory analysis and control system prototype (D6.5) with documented performance measures.

Audience

Who needs this

Fabless chip design companies needing integrated sensor-processor manufacturingAutomotive Tier 1 suppliers developing smart sensor modulesRenewable energy equipment makers needing custom power management ICsMedical device companies requiring miniaturized sensor-computing packagesIoT hardware startups looking for European pilot-scale chip production

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Semiconductor Manufacturing

SME

Target: Fabless chip design companies or system integrators needing custom sensor-processor combinations

If you are a chip design company struggling to find a single manufacturer that can combine sensors, OLED displays, and CMOS processing on one chip — ADMONT built a distributed pilot line across 14 partners in Dresden that works as a one-stop-shop. Instead of coordinating with multiple fabs across countries, you get one production flow with 2.5D and 3D integration, cutting your supply chain coordination overhead.

Automotive Electronics

mid-size

Target: Tier 1 automotive suppliers developing smart mobility sensors

If you are an automotive supplier needing integrated sensor modules for driver assistance or autonomous systems — ADMONT's pilot line was designed for smart mobility applications among its 4 key focus areas. The distributed manufacturing setup across 6 countries offers access to specialized More-than-Moore technologies that combine sensing and computing, with real-time factory analysis systems demonstrated in deliverable D6.5.

Energy Technology

any

Target: Renewable energy equipment manufacturers needing smart power management chips

If you are an energy tech company looking for custom chips that combine power management with built-in sensors for smart grid or renewable energy applications — ADMONT specifically targeted smart energy as one of its 4 application pillars. The pilot line integrates sensor processing with baseline CMOS in a single production flow, backed by 12 industry partners and 8 SMEs with real manufacturing capacity.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to use this pilot line for a custom chip run?

The project data does not include pricing for pilot line access. As a distributed pilot line involving 14 partners coordinated by X-FAB Dresden (a commercial foundry), pricing would likely depend on technology modules selected and volume. Contact the coordinator for a quote on specific runs.

Can this handle industrial-scale production volumes?

ADMONT was designed as a pilot line, not a mass-production facility. However, the coordinator X-FAB is a commercial semiconductor foundry, and the consortium includes 12 industry partners with real manufacturing capacity. The pilot line is meant to de-risk new designs before scaling to full production.

Who owns the IP and can I license specific technologies?

IP arrangements would be governed by the ECSEL Joint Undertaking grant agreement and consortium-internal agreements among the 14 partners. Since the consortium is 86% industry (12 out of 14 partners), commercial licensing paths likely exist. Contact X-FAB Dresden as the coordinating partner for licensing discussions.

Is the pilot line still operational after the project ended in 2019?

The project closed in April 2019. However, the infrastructure was built on existing facilities in Dresden's Silicon Saxony cluster, and X-FAB continues to operate as a commercial foundry. The pilot line's distributed model means individual partner capabilities likely persist even if the formal project structure ended.

How does the virtual pilot line interface work?

Deliverable D6.7 demonstrated a prototype for interfaces within the virtual pilot line, including MES (Manufacturing Execution System) and automation solutions covering the full data flow. Deliverable D6.5 added real-time factory data analysis and control systems with documented migration scenarios and performance measures.

What regulations or standards does this comply with?

Based on available project data, specific regulatory certifications are not mentioned. However, the ECSEL-IA funding scheme targets European electronics competitiveness, and the focus on smart health and smart mobility applications suggests relevant industry standards would apply. Contact the consortium for certification details.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a heavily industry-driven consortium with 12 out of 14 partners (86%) coming from industry and 8 of those being SMEs — an unusually high commercial concentration for an EU-funded project. The coordinator, X-FAB Dresden, is an established commercial semiconductor foundry, not a research institute, which signals practical manufacturing intent rather than academic exploration. The consortium spans 6 countries (Austria, Germany, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Sweden) but centers on Dresden's Silicon Saxony cluster, giving it geographic density that supports the distributed pilot line concept. With zero university partners and only 2 research organizations, this project was built to produce something companies can use, not papers to publish.

X-FAB Dresden GmbH & Co. KGCoordinator · DE
EDC ELECTRONIC DESIGN CHEMNITZ GMBHparticipant · DE
SMARTRAC TECHNOLOGY GMBHparticipant · DE
OKMETIC OYparticipant · FI
SYSTEMA SYSTEMENTWICKLUNG DIPL INF.MANFRED AUSTEN GMBHparticipant · DE
MENARINI SILICON BIOSYSTEMS SPAparticipant · IT
FABMATICS GMBHparticipant · DE
SENSEAIR ABparticipant · SE
TECHNIKON FORSCHUNGS- UND PLANUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBHparticipant · AT
HEIMANN SENSOR GMBHparticipant · DE
IMMS INSTITUT FUER MIKROELEKTRONIK- UND MECHATRONIK-SYSTEME GMBHparticipant · DE

How to reach the team

X-FAB Dresden GmbH & Co. KG (Germany) — a commercial semiconductor foundry specializing in analog/mixed-signal and MEMS manufacturing

Order a report on this consortium See X-FAB Dresden GmbH & Co. KG profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the ADMONT pilot line team for custom chip manufacturing? SciTransfer can connect you with the right technical contact at X-FAB or the relevant consortium partner for your application domain.

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