Reducing the European innovation gap in processor technology

The challenge for telecommunication, Earth observation and scientific satellite manufacturers is to respond to growing requirements in terms of payload flexibility, scalability and performance and at a very competitive cost. Digital processors based on Deep Sub Micron (DSM) technologies are pivotal to answering this need so that Europe can remain competitive vis-à-vis US players with improvement in processor mass and power consumption. An initial high speed serial link prototype based on European 65 nm process from ST Microelectronics has been completed paving the way for further optimisation and space qualification of the device. In addition 65 nm design kits and the first prototype of the European broadband/ low power analogue to digital converters (ADC) was completed in 2010. Full qualification of the 65nm process was foreseen in the ECI 2012-2015 workplan. This innovation reduces the identified European to US technology gap from 10-15 years to 5-10 years.