Read on Twitter
Last year I presented to the Advance roundtable on Semiconductors & how Australia is missing out on a $USD450 billion pa business
They say Software is eating the world but software is nothing without Silicon https://twitter.com/MariaMacNamara1/status/1353897727596273664
They say Software is eating the world but software is nothing without Silicon https://twitter.com/MariaMacNamara1/status/1353897727596273664
Here is a few relatively cheap steps we can take to make Australia the Semi Design Capital of the world in 2030
Its not too late & we dont need to build fabs to get in the game
The objective is to make Australia the best/easiest place to launch a new Semi startup in the world
Its not too late & we dont need to build fabs to get in the game
The objective is to make Australia the best/easiest place to launch a new Semi startup in the world
1. Fast Track Visa's for any Semiconductor Entrepreneur who wants to base a semiconductor startup in Australia (PMs Envoy probably mostly has this solved)
2. Give them a precinct & a desk to work from for free until they raise Seed or Series A @gabrielleupton ?
2. Give them a precinct & a desk to work from for free until they raise Seed or Series A @gabrielleupton ?
3. Give them a Ramen Noodle startup/grant alllowance that will allow them to employ 1 or 2 of their first team
4. Fund their Cadence Design tools license fees for a year or until Seed funding (this is actually a major semi roadblock these are the most hideous SaaS fees)
4. Fund their Cadence Design tools license fees for a year or until Seed funding (this is actually a major semi roadblock these are the most hideous SaaS fees)
PS If anyone is building a competitor to Cadence in AU or wants to come here please DM me, we are keen to find a competitor
The Cadence fees issue cannot be underestimated, these are really tough to self fund
Can you imagine software engineers without open source dev tools?
The Cadence fees issue cannot be underestimated, these are really tough to self fund
Can you imagine software engineers without open source dev tools?
5. Pay for their first 2-3 tapeouts/prototype chips (this is also expensive as well & most likely cannot be done until a startup has raised capital)
Any State Innovation MPs want to take this one on?
6. Fast track visas for any new hires (semi talent is thin on the ground)
Any State Innovation MPs want to take this one on?
6. Fast track visas for any new hires (semi talent is thin on the ground)
7. Launch specialised Semiconductor University Streams, we have a few topics in various EE degrees but no specialised focused Semi courses
This is a new industry for us so we need critical mass of talent
India has specialised degrees & has become the worlds Semi design engine
This is a new industry for us so we need critical mass of talent
India has specialised degrees & has become the worlds Semi design engine
The @MSeqVC team is keen to grow & back new Semiconductor Startups here in Australia
DM me if you are trying to launch a Semi startups, design tools or anything which accelerates the Semi design & production process & you want to move to Australia
DM me if you are trying to launch a Semi startups, design tools or anything which accelerates the Semi design & production process & you want to move to Australia
What would happen if we launched 100+ semiconductor Design startups in Australia?
Could we become the Semiductor Startup Capital of the World?
What skills, jobs and export revenues could we build?
Could we become the Semiductor Startup Capital of the World?
What skills, jobs and export revenues could we build?
PS The Fab process is critical but Australia doesnt have to build one, its a massively capital intensive business (+$10b per fab) where there is only room & capability for 3-4 major players
The good news is that for a modest sum these players will make your chips for you
The good news is that for a modest sum these players will make your chips for you
Most of the value is in the Design, Testing, Verification etc
Think about it like Apple, most value (IP) is created in Cupertino but fabrication occurs in CN
Semiconductors can be similar
Note this wont work for every chip type but it will work for a large chunk
Think about it like Apple, most value (IP) is created in Cupertino but fabrication occurs in CN
Semiconductors can be similar
Note this wont work for every chip type but it will work for a large chunk
Some interesting developments that will help drive this
Open Source processors - RISC V - https://riscv.org/ These open source designs are going to do to Semiconductors what Linux did to webservices
ARM is taking on Intel in Servers/Desktop, this will happen w RISCV also
Open Source processors - RISC V - https://riscv.org/ These open source designs are going to do to Semiconductors what Linux did to webservices
ARM is taking on Intel in Servers/Desktop, this will happen w RISCV also
Fossi Foundation - "Free & Open Source Silicon (FOSSi) are components & systems that are inside silicon devices (‘chips’). It is our core belief that building blocks that form such digital devices should be free and open"
https://www.fossi-foundation.org/2020/06/30/skywater-pdk
https://www.fossi-foundation.org/2020/06/30/skywater-pdk
SkyWater Open Source PDK is a collaboration between Google & SkyWater Technology Foundry to provide a fully open source Process Design Kit & produce free chips for Open Source projects https://github.com/google/skywater-pdk
