Free Silicon Foundation @fsi@mastodon.f-si.org

#Introductions

We are proud to announce the birth of the Free Silicon Foundation (https://f-si.org)!

We organize a conference in Paris, March 14-16 2019, to promote:

1. Free and Open Source (FOS) CAD tools for designing #VLSI circuits
2. the sharing of hardware designs
3. common standards
4. the freedom of users in the context of #silicon technology

Program and submissions:
https://wiki.f-si.org/index.php/FSiC2019

#Hardware #FSiC

For example, permissive licences would allow big-EDA to "steal" the best open-source projects and to sell their programs without releasing the source.

Some popular permissive licences, moreover, don't contain any "patent clause" making them dangerous in the chip/hardware context: Tracking which IP went in which chip is relatively simple, and replacing a certain IP once a chip is fabricated is impossible. Without a "patent clause" developers could be easily threatened for patent infringement. 

This EU call refers to the following roadmap which was coordinated by the FOSSi foundation, an entity which received money from Google and big-EDA:
https://fossi-foundation.org/resources/eu-roadmap

The call says that "this roadmap should be considered in proposals".

This roadmap recommends "OSI-approved licences" (ignoring the #FSF) and hints to a "permissive development model".
We strongly disagree with promoting permissive licences in all situations because they may enable unsustainable exploitation scenarios:

This 20MEur call follows years of lobbying the European Commission (EC) for open-source support:

* In January 2020 we published recommendations for the EC about Free and Open-Source (FOS) Silicon Hardware:
https://wiki.f-si.org/index.php?title=White_paper_for_the_EC,_January_2020

* In November 2023 we published a roadmap for the EC:
https://wiki.f-si.org/index.php?title=Recommendations_and_roadmap_for_the_development_of_open-source_silicon_in_the_EU

The European Commission just published a 20MEur call for the development of open-source Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools:

https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/calls-for-proposals?callIdentifier=HORIZON-JU-CHIPS-2025-IA-EDA-two-stage&isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502,31094503&order=DESC&pageNumber=1&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate

The relevant part is on page 17 of "Annex 2, Appendix 6":
https://www.chips-ju.europa.eu/File/download.aspx?entity=shv_library&attribute=shv_file&ID=cc42159a-30ed-ef11-9341-7c1e5235a121

The first deadline is on April 29. In case of interest contact us -we will help you to get in touch with the forming Consortia.

We are glad to announce the next edition of the Free Silicon Conference (#FSiC) which will be held at IHP Microelectronics (Frankfurt an der Oder) on July 2, 3, 4 2025:
https://wiki.f-si.org/index.php/FSiC2025

Please help us to spread the voice and to identify new open-silicon projects and new open-source Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools.

To propose or suggest an idea just answer to this toot or write at fsic2025'at'f-si.org.

#openHardware #semiconductor #silicon #GoIT #NGIZero

#IHP offers a new certificate course in digital #chip design using #OpenROAD. The program covers everything from the basics of design to behavioral descriptions, simulation, and verification. The first event in February 10-14 is free of charge.

For registration and more details:

https://www.ihp-microelectronics.com/events-1/detail/certificate-course-digital-circuit-design-with-ihp-sg13g2-open-source-pdk

#BMBF

On November 18 took place the Workshop on Open-Source #EDA Technology (#WOSET).

Check out the program at:

https://woset-workshop.github.io/WOSET2024-schedule.html

Dr. Stefan Finkbeiner, CEO of #Bosch Sensortec GmbH, has been elected as the new Chair of the Chips Joint Undertaking Governing Board:

https://www.chips-ju.europa.eu/News-detail/?id=851790bf-7aa6-ef11-8a6a-7c1e52377187

We congratulate Dr. Finkbeiner and we hope that he will support the development of open-source #EDA tools and open-source silicon.

#ChipsJU

Asynchronous circuits don't need a clock, they run as fast as they can and they require minimal technological assumptions. If properly designed, they can operate in a wide range of voltages and temperatures.

Listen to the talk of Rajit Manohar (Yale) to learn about the theoretical background and their FOSS tools:

https://peertube6.f-si.org/w/o53qGHtAq3hdEQLfQfmRCh

#FSiC

We have just signed the letter by @ps to the European Commission to keep funding free and open-source software and hardware:

https://pad.public.cat/lettre-NCP-NGI

#EU #FOSS #opensource #NGI @EC_NGI

The ENISA (the EU's cybersecurity agency) is holding a series of 21 consultations about technical aspects of the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). The consultations started already yesterday.

If you can help represent the open-source perspective, please consider participating.

Schedule and registration details:

https://wiki.f-si.org/images/c/c2/June_26_2024_CRA_consulation_call.pdf

#openHardware #semiconductor #silicon #cybersecurity #GoIT #NGIZero

The General Public License (GPL) is unfortunately not suited for electronic devices and silicon chips in particular. We would like therefore to develop a GPL-compatible hardware licence.

Are you interested to submit a tender? Then do so by July 3:

https://wiki.f-si.org/index.php?title=Tender_for_GPL-compatible_hardware_licence_development

#GPL #GoIT

Are you interested to participate to a public discussion on the development of open-source silicon and open-source Electronic Design Automation (EDA) in Europe?

Then join our introductory webinar on May 14 over #BigBlueButton:

https://wiki.goit-project.eu/index.php?title=Open-source_silicon_and_EDA_workshop_2024

This event will be followed by an in-person workshop on June 18 in Paris (right before #FSiC) and by Working Groups. The discussion will lead to a new #Roadmap for the #EuropeanCommission.

#openHardware #semiconductor #silicon #GoIT #NGIZero

If you are affiliated with a university please consider signing the following letter which calls for open-source Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools:

https://open-source-eda-letter.eu/

The letter is hosted by the FOSSi Foundation @fossifoundation .

Btw: If you are interested to participate to a public discussion on the development of open-source silicon and open-source EDA please join us on May 14 over #BBB:

https://wiki.goit-project.eu/index.php?title=Open-source_silicon_and_EDA_workshop_2024

#openHardware #semiconductor #silicon #GoIT #NGIZero

"Open source CPU and SoC design: the flow, the challenges and a perspective"

Listen to the experiences of Charles Papon tomorrow (Thursday April 11) at 13:00 CEST:
https://www.ngi.eu/event/webinar-open-source-cpu-and-soc-design/

#RISCV #CPU #SpinalHDL #NGI0

Dear Fediverse,

we want to host a #BigBlueButton instance for meetings with up to 100 participants.

Can somebody recommend a setup which scales to this number?

We have in mind to rent a dedicated server at Hetzner. Unfortunately, this is difficult to test ahead of the meeting.

@senfcall

We are glad to announce the next edition of the Free Silicon Conference (#FSiC) which will be held in Paris on June 19, 20, 21 2024:

https://wiki.f-si.org/index.php/FSiC2024

Please help us to spread the voice and to identify new open-silicon projects and new open-source Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools.

To propose or suggest an idea just answer to this toot or write at fsic2024'at'f-si.org.

#openHardware #semiconductor #silicon #GoIT #NGIZero