POEMS Summer School Brings Together the Next Generation of IC and EDA Talent

The POEMS Summer School on Artificial Intelligence for Integrated Circuits and Integrated Circuits for Artificial Intelligence took place at Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, from 22 to 25 June 2026, bringing together 44 participants, mostly master’s students, for an intensive programme dedicated to the future of semiconductor design.

The summer school explored the growing convergence between artificial intelligence, Electronic Design Automation (EDA) and integrated circuit design, addressing key topics such as AI for analog and digital IC design, machine learning for EDA, hardware accelerators for AI, neuromorphic computing, in-memory computing and emerging semiconductor architectures.

Over the course of the programme, participants attended lectures, tutorials and panel discussions led by nine invited speakers from academia and industry. The programme provided a unique opportunity for students to engage directly with leading experts, discuss emerging research challenges and gain insight into the tools and methodologies shaping the next generation of intelligent electronic systems.

The summer school reinforced the importance of multidisciplinary training in semiconductors, particularly at a time when AI is transforming the way integrated circuits are designed, while advanced IC technologies are becoming essential to sustain the rapid evolution of AI systems.

The strong participation of master’s students highlights the growing interest of young engineers in semiconductor technologies and their strategic role in Europe’s technological sovereignty. Through these training initiatives, POEMS continues to contribute to the development of advanced skills, research capacity and innovation within the Portuguese and European semiconductor ecosystem.