In a landmark move to boost Australia’s semiconductor industry, Macquarie University has unveiled its new on-campus Silicon Platforms Lab (SiP Lab), which was established in collaboration with Atto Devices.
The lab, co-located with Atto Devices on the Macquarie campus, aims to become a leading centre for semiconductor research and commercialisation, expanding the university’s capabilities in this critical sector.
The SiP Lab, operating within the Faculty of Science and Engineering, focuses on the development of advanced silicon system-on-chip (SoC) and system-in-package (SiP) technologies.
These technologies support integration across quantum sensors, photonics, bioinformatics, and biosensors, positioning Macquarie University at the forefront of innovation in semiconductor technology.
“The Silicon Platforms Lab and our partnership with Atto Devices represents a strategic investment in Australia’s semiconductor capabilities,” said Professor Dan Johnson, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Research, Innovation and Enterprise at Macquarie University.
Atto Devices, a company founded by semiconductor veterans Neil Weste, Jeremy Hallett, and Mike Boers, specialises in advanced hardware platforms and custom silicon chips for computing, communications, and sensing in research, defence, and commercial markets.
This partnership serves as the primary commercialisation pathway for the SiP Lab’s research.
Professor Boers, co-founder of Atto Devices and the head of the new lab, brings a wealth of experience to this role. His work in advanced silicon SoC and SiP technologies is expected to drive the lab’s ambitious agenda.
“The SiP Lab will enable us to push the boundaries of silicon-based semiconductor research,” said Professor Boers.
“Having a partnership between the SiP Lab and Atto Devices creates a robust ecosystem for translating cutting-edge research into marketable products and enables us to help support the training and development of the next generation of engineers.”
The SiP Lab builds on Macquarie’s established reputation in semiconductor research, strengthened by the Macquarie Analog Devices Laboratory (MAD Lab) within the School of Engineering.
MAD Lab is widely recognised for its expertise in semiconductor modeling and circuit design, particularly in areas like millimetre-wave and gallium nitride semiconductors, which play a critical role in specialist radio frequency systems.
Professor S Bruce Dowton, Vice-Chancellor of Macquarie University, emphasised the potential impact of this collaboration.
“The partnership between the University and Atto Devices creates a unique ecosystem that mirrors successful industry-academia collaborations on the global stage, with the potential to foster breakthroughs in semiconductor technology while developing the next generation of industry leaders,” said Professor Dowton.
