The Pôle SCS delegation at the Silicon Saxony Day. From left to right: Francis Romano and Etienne Nouafo from the company Focussia, Philippe Baldet from the company ATG Technologies, Anaïs Mispolet from Pôle SCS, André Bonnardot from the company EasyGan and Gérard Martinez from Pôle SCS.
IN THE FRAME OF THE EUROPEAN EXCITE PROJECT AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SILICON SAXONY CLUSTER, SCS MEMBERS EASYGAN, FOCUSSIA AND ATG TECHNOLOGIES EMBARKED ON A B2B MISSION FROM 20 TO 22 JUNE TO DISCOVER THE DIGITAL AND MICROELECTRONICS ECOSYSTEM IN DRESDEN, IN THE SAXONY REGION.
Silicon Saxony, Europe’s Microelectronics Powerhouse
With almost 80,000 highly qualified people specialising in the development, manufacture and distribution of integrated circuits, and the presence of major companies such as Infineon, GlobalFoundries, Bosch and X-FAB, Saxony is a veritable hub of the European microelectronics landscape. In fact, one in three microchips in Europe is produced here!
A three-day programme of visits, presentations and B2B sessions
During the mission, which brought together more than 40 people from ten European countries, the members of the Pôle SCS delegation had the chance to meet the major players in the microelectronics, IoT and Smart Systems ecosystem, as well as visiting key sites that are driving local innovation.
Day 1: Pitch, presentations, and discussions with industry leaders
The mission began at the Smart Systems Hub with an overview of its missions and key projects, followed by a series of presentations from companies providing IoT and Smart Systems solutions, revealing the network and innovation dynamics that are deeply rooted in the region. The afternoon was devoted to ecosystem visits, including the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Research in Micro- and Nanoelectronics, which presented several prototypes. Bosch then opened the doors of its virtual factory and presented the group’s innovations and ambitions for the future. The day ended with a visit to Volkswagen’s transparent factory, a unique opportunity to learn more about the robotisation and optimisation of factories right up close to the production lines.
Day 2: Silicon Saxonay Day – Fostering Collaboration and International Exchange
The second day the delegation had the chance to attend the Silicon Saxony Day, an annual event designed to promote collaboration, knowledge sharing and networking. This year’s event welcomed more than 600 participants, 32% of whom were international. B2B sessions facilitated one-to-one meetings between participants and Saxon companies, to explore potential partnerships and collaborations. Throughout the day, presentations and demonstrations showcased the expertise and achievements of local companies. EasyGan, Focussia and ATG Technologies also had the opportunity to pitch their innovative solutions to a large audience, with great success!
Day 3: Exploring Cutting-Edge Facilities and Pioneering Technologies
The final day offered visits to prominent industrial players, unveiling the complex processes behind cutting-edge microchip production. The visit to Infineon provided a exclusive overview of the factory and its robotisation, enabling the precise and reliable manufacture of advanced semiconductors. The second visit, to the heart of the Fabmatics factory, revealed the company’s expertise in automated handling and robotics, with an insight into the optimisation of production in Cleanrooms. The day ended with a tour of the GlobalFoundries facilities, where a fortunate subset of the group, including our three members, experienced the world of semiconductor fabrication firsthand in the cleanroom.
