EURO-DOTSA new EC Support Action

For Doctoral Training in Europe

Prof. Michel J. DeclercqEPFL and MEAD

LausanneSwitzerland

Prof. Herman E. MaesIMEC and KUL

LeuvenBelgium

EURO-DOTS

OUTLINE

Challenges in EE Curriculum

Evolution of rules imposed to PhD Students

Problems to be addressed

Some paths for improving the situation

The new EURO-DOTS Support Action

Eligibility criteria for course modules

Scholarships

Conclusions

60 70 80 90 00 10 20

Min. feature size

10m

1m

10 nm

100 nm

3 major directions for R & D

more Moore

more than Moore

beyond CMOS

Moore’s Law

Technological & Physical limitsare in sight

Challenges in EE Curriculum

More Moore

Very complex technologies

New materials

New component architectures

Challenges in Modeling and CAD

New circuit design techniques to be developed

Sub-1V, static leakages, dispersion, …

New system-level architectures (redundancy,..)

System-level Design Challenges (parasitic

coupling, power dissipation, …)

Pushing CMOS up to its extreme technological& physical limits

Challenges in EE Curriculum

More than Moore

Security

Health

Environment & sustainable development

Domotics

Quality of life – improved autonomy for the elderly

Bio-médical

Mobility

Leasure

Integrated Systems and HeterogeneousSystems open new perspectives in a widerange of applications

Communications

Energy

Challenges in EE Curriculum

Beyond CMOS Search for new, disruptive solutions

Synergy between several fields

Material Sc. Physics

BiologyEngineering

Any new technology will have to fulfill several criteria that may be summarized by « System-Ability »

Challenges in EE Curriculum

Source

Gate

tunnelingjunctions

Drain

SET

Source

conductiveisland

Nanowires (semiconductor)

Nanotubes(CNTs)

SET/SEM

MolecularDevices

Spintronics

QCA

RTD (Resonant Tunneling Diode)

Beyond CMOS

Many interesting candidates

None of them is fulfilling all criteria today …

Quantum CellularAutomata

RSFQ (rapid Single flux Quantum Logic)

NEMS

Challenges in EE Curriculum

Bachelor and Master Programs must giveStudents the ability to adapt to these challenges

Importance of a strong program in Basic SciencesBroad, Polytechnical EducationProblem solving ability – methodology – system level approachAccess to advanced technologies and CAD toolsBasics in Economy, management, sustainable development, ethics

Continuing Education during an engineering carreer ismandatory

Challenges in EE Curriculum

Gap between the basic training in the EE curriculumand the state-of-the art level necessary for a PhD

Major universities have created a Doctoral School andDoctoral Programs in the different engineering fieldsfor addressing this problem

Evolution of Rules imposed to PhD Students

Typical rules may be summarized as follows:

• Strict admission requirements

• Final admission after one year, on the basis of a sound research program

• Doctoral Training Program with ECTS credits A total of 12 (typical) ECTS credits must be reached.

• Annual Progress Report to be submitted

• At least one scientific publication in an International Journal and/or a Major International Conference

• Final PhD exam

Evolution of Rules imposed to PhD Students

ECTS

Result of Bologna Agreements

Credits are based on the total workload of students(lectures, projects, personal work, exams)

1 academic year = 30 weeks = 60 ECTS credits

1 full week = 2 ECTS credits

European Credit Transfer System

Problems to be addressed

University level

Major effort for creating PhD-level courses for a limitednumber of students

Domain of expertise for creating advanced courseslimited to research fields of the local labs

Student level

According to the specific PhD topic, proposed courses should cover most of the micro/nanoelectronic domainand related fields

Foreign courses are hardly accessible for multipleReasons, including: • Time schedule

• Costs• Access to exams & credits

Some paths for improving the situation

Existing experience at EPFL, MEAD, IMEC and KUL

One-week, intensive, modular courses are very successful and solve the time schedule problems

These courses are offered both in the framework of the Doctoral School of the University and in the framework of the Continuing education program (summer courses)

An optional exam is proposed for the obtention of ECTS credits

One week of intensive courses, followed by homework and an exam, corresponds to 3 ECTS credits

In summer 2009, more than 60 exams have been presented at EPFL by PhD students for the obtention of ECTS credits in the advanced summer courses in micro/nanoelectronics

The EURO-DOTS Support ActionStarts on May 1st 2010

European-wide (virtual) Doctoral Training Program

Comprehensive catalog of high-level courses covering the whole field of micro/nano electronics

Courses are delivered locally by major European universities

Selected courses fulfil strict criteria, and are accredited for ECTS credits

Scholarships are provided to PhD students for easing their access to the courses

Course catalog is continuously updated, based on an analysis of training needs by a Scientific Committee

This Support Action does NOT cover the creation of courses

The EURO-DOTS Partners

Eligibility criteria for course modules

Modular, Intensive course (1 week, typical)

Courses of high-quality, high-level scientific content,Fitting the needs of the EURO-DOTS program

Accredited by the Doctoral School of home universityand by the Academic Committee of EURO-DOTS

Access to an exam/evaluation + issue of a certificatefor ECTS credits

Registration fee within imposed limits for PhD students

Eligibility criteria for Scholarships

Official registration as a PhD student

Course should fit with the PhD topic of the applicant

Engagement to pass the exam/evaluation

Course accepted by the PhD advisor and the home university for ECTS credits

Preliminary list of existing courses (Summer 2010)

Micro-Power Analog IC DesignTransistor-level Analog IC Design

PLLs and Clock Recovery

RF Analog IC Design

Advanced Analog CMOS IC Design

Practical Aspects in Mixed-Signal ICs

Ultra-Low voltage Design

Power ManagementCryptographic Engineering

21.06-25.06

28.06-02.07

23.08-27.08

30.08-03.09

EPFL + MEAD

Silicon processing for sub-45 nm circuit fabrication

Biosensor technology for scientists and engineers

CMOS Reliability, general

Advanced verification

Design for Manufacturing flow

Advanced digital physical implementation flow

Photovoltaic program

Preliminary list of existing courses (Summer 2010)

IMEC

Basics of the Monte Carlo method for transport in semiconductor devices Oct 04-08

Nanometer structures with stepper lithography (Sidewall Transfer Lithography) Winter2010

Practical 1/f noise characterization of nanoscale devices and defect identification Winter 2010

Preliminary list of upcoming courses (Fall 2010)

KTH

Complex characterization of GaN based structuresElectrical characterization techniques: I-V, I-T, C-V, DLTS, microwave, noise,….

Analytical and optical characterization techniques:

SIMS, AES, AFM, SEM, EDX, CL, EBIC, microRaman,… Reverse engineering, reliability analysis

2-/3-D numerical modeling & simulation

STU Bratislava

Preliminary list of upcoming courses (Fall 2010)

CONCLUSIONS

EURO-DOTS is a new Support Measure for Doctoral Training in Europe, financed by theEC in the 7th F.P.

A call will be launched for inviting EuropeanUniversities and Engineering Schools to submitCourses that fulfil the specifications of the program

European PhD Students are entitled to receiveA scholarship that covers a part of their expenses

Courses are open to industrial participants forContinuing education

Close links will be maintained with other European Initiatives such as ENIAC

Contact & Information

euro-dots@mead.ch