Whether you are just getting started in chip design or already have some experience, at LAYR you will work in a team on real projects and see how ideas turn into real chips. You will gain practical experience, earn ECTS credits, and contribute your expertise to the open-source community.
From the initial concept to the finished silicon: using modern open-source technologies, you will develop your own chip design step by step. Mentors, development boards, and a professional toolchain will support you along the way. All submitted designs will be manufactured—so you'll end up holding your own chip in your hands.
From theory to practice: The LAYR competition can be flexibly integrated as a series of seminars, in project work or as elective modules without additional effort. The didactically prepared open educational materials, tutorials and ‘Teach-the-Teacher’ videos are available free of charge and can be adapted.
In cooperation with universities, industry, research institutions and the open source community, practical learning spaces are created in which students work on real-world challenges. This not only generates new ideas, but also fosters valuable connections between science, business and young talent. As a LAYR partner, you promote talent, research and open innovation and play an active role in training future specialists.
The challenge of the competition calls for creativity and team spirit and builds solid expertise in open-source chip design. Over several rounds, the teams tackle a central task that becomes more demanding with each level. Each level has its own objectives, learning materials and technical mentoring support from experts in research and industry.
Level 2
Protection against passive (power) side-channel attacks – You are free to choose which types of countermeasures (masking, concealment, etc.) to implement and to what extent. All steps must be fully documented and justified. The considerations should be presented in such a way that it is clear why certain countermeasures were chosen and what effect they are intended to have.