Siemens Digital Industries Software has launched the Cre8Ventures Open Higher Education Program, a collaborative initiative with Arm and the University of Southampton’s School of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS). The program aims to spark entrepreneurial curiosity and accelerate student-driven semiconductor innovation across Europe’s top technical universities.
Combining Siemens’ Cre8Ventures collaborative venturing platform and advanced multi-physics Digital Twin Marketplace, Arm’s cutting-edge technology and developer resources, and ECS’s renowned lab-to-fab expertise, the initiative creates a strong link between academia, industry, and policymakers. Participating students will have access to industrial-grade tools, partner design platforms, and comprehensive learning resources—empowering them to transform ideas from the classroom into real-world commercial solutions.
“This initiative delivers clear value across the ecosystem. For students, they are able to accelerate learning and startup creation with industrial-grade tools. For universities, it brings broader curricula, higher student engagement, and direct commercialization routes,” said Geoff Lee, vice president, Siemens EDA EMEA, Siemens Digital Industries Software. “We believe that our work with Arm and the University of Southampton can help to bring a scalable, sovereign solution to Europe’s semiconductor skills gap and help bring early access to validated innovations and emerging talent to the semiconductor industry.”
A launchpad for entrepreneurial talent
The Siemens Cre8Ventures Open Higher Education Program provides students with:
- Access to Siemens’ Digital Twin Marketplace and world-class EDA tools
- Arm Academic Access and Arm Flexible Access for Startups programs and developer training
- Hands-on experience through partner workshops, design kits and entrepreneurial bootcamps
- Commercial licensing pathways and early validation through prototype-ready spinouts
- Entrepreneurial support to help turn ideas into investor-ready startups
Through structured innovation stages – from Proof-of-Technology through Proof-of-Concept to Proof-of-Value – students can move from academic projects to funded startups with the program supporting market validation, prototyping and engagement with Siemens’ and Arm’s global corporate customer networks.
Backed by the Semiconductor Education Alliance
The initiative is supported by the Semiconductor Education Alliance (SEA), a not-for-profit consortium convened by Arm that connects industry, academia, and governments to scale semiconductor education and innovation globally. Siemens and the University of Southampton are active members of the Alliance, and its involvement helps extend the program’s reach and impact across a wider network of institutions in Europe and beyond.
“Arm is proud to support this initiative by providing access to technology, content and communities that help students turn ideas into viable startups,” said Khaled Benkrid, senior director, Education and Research, Arm. “By working with Siemens and the University of Southampton, we’re helping scale semiconductor education and innovation, accelerating entrepreneurial talent, and contributing to Europe’s technology sovereignty and future competitiveness.”
Founding Academic partner: University of Southampton ECS
As the founding educational partner, the University of Southampton’s School of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) brings deep technical expertise in AI, cybersecurity, embedded systems and semiconductors. ECS will act as a hub for hands-on education, digital twin simulation and startup incubation.
“This is an amazing opportunity for our students to gain invaluable industrial experience through this semiconductor initiative with our partners Siemens and Arm. I’m excited by the prospect of our students engaging beyond the classroom and getting firsthand exposure to industrial practices and commercialization,” said Harold Chong, Professor of Electronic Engineering, ECS, University of Southampton.
Scaling across Europe
Siemens Cre8Ventures, Arm and ECS are now actively engaging with other leading technical universities and Chips Act Competence Centers across Europe to expand the program. This effort supports the EU Chips Act’s sovereignty goals by building a scalable pipeline of commercially minded semiconductor talent.
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