CMC Microsystems
CMC Microsystems is a Canadian not-for-profit (founded 1983) that provides subsidized semiconductor design tools, MPW prototyping, and EDA cloud hosting to 11,000+ researchers and 1,200+ companies across 80+ post-secondary institutions, funded primarily through federal programs (ISED, NSERC, CFI) and managing the FABrIC innovation network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersKingston, Canada
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CMC Microsystems does
CMC Microsystems (legally Canadian Microelectronics Corporation / Société canadienne de micro-électronique) is a Canadian not-for-profit organization founded in 1983 and headquartered in Kingston, Ontario, with operational offices in Montreal, Ottawa (Kanata North), and Sherbrooke. Operating under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, CMC has served for 40+ years as the federally-backed infrastructure provider for Canada's National Design Network, delivering subsidized access to semiconductor design tools, multi-project wafer (MPW) prototyping, EDA cloud hosting, and technical support to over 11,000 researchers across 80+ post-secondary institutions and more than 1,200 commercial organizations. Its core technology stack aggregates foundry access (GlobalFoundries 12LP/28SLPe/55BCD/Fotonix, TSMC 28nm HPC+RF, STMicroelectronics 28nm FD-SOI, XFAB, Silterra, VTT for superconducting, 3it), EDA licenses (Cadence, Siemens Custom IC/Tanner, COMSOL, Synopsys, Keysight, Luceda), quantum computing access (IBM Quantum Hub, Xanadu, VTT), and proprietary development platforms (SwiftMote IoT family, Tenstorrent Grayskull, BARVINN RISC-V accelerator, CORE-V MCU/VEC, HCMP, HPP, Photonics Toolkit).
CMC's revenue model combines annual subscription fees from academic and commercial members with substantial federal program funding from ISED (via the Strategic Innovation Fund and the FABrIC innovation network), NSERC, and CFI. Notable 2024-2026 capital events include a CDN $88.1 million Strategic Innovation Fund award, CDN $35.6 million of FABrIC-managed semiconductor investment, and CDN $10.7 million disbursed to 11 edge-computing firms leveraging an additional CDN $33.6 million in industry co-investment. CMC is positioning itself beyond academic enablement into defense supply-chain integration via the CDN $357.7 million Regional Defense Investment Initiative, photonic fabrication via the CDN $90 million-funded Canadian Photonic Fabrication Centre, and workforce development through a partnership with the Information and Communications Technology Council. Sub-brands include FABrIC, CMC basecamp, VIE (Virtual Incubator Environment), DUET, LAB2FAB, and MicroFAB Access, with trademarked offerings CADpass and CMC SponsorChip.
CMC Microsystems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CMC Microsystems
- Legal name
- Canadian Microelectronics Corporation / Société canadienne de micro-électronique
- Website
- https://cmc.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- CMC Microsystems is a Canadian not-for-profit (founded 1983) that provides subsidized semiconductor design tools, MPW prototyping, and EDA cloud hosting to 11,000+ researchers and 1,200+ companies across 80+ post-secondary institutions, funded primarily through federal programs (ISED, NSERC, CFI) and managing the FABrIC innovation network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CMC Microsystems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Semiconductor Design & Fabrication Services
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- QCaaS Platforms & Developer Portals (HDAGAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- AI/Neural Processing Units (NPUs) & ML Accelerators (HDAHAJAF)
Keywords
Where CMC Microsystems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kingston
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
CMC Microsystems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Government Funding: CMC operates as a not-for-profit organization primarily funded by federal government programs including Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) Strategic Response Fund through the FABrIC project, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). The organization was established in 1984 with NSERC support and has received 40 years of continued funding.
- Subscription Services: Provides CAD tools, chip fabrication, and technical services to academic and commercial subscribers through subscription model. Services include MPW prototyping, EDA tool access, cloud hosting, and advanced design services for microelectronics, photonics, MEMS, and quantum technologies.
- Technical Support Services: Technical support included with CAD and chip fabrication services. Additional hourly-fee technical support available for services beyond standard scope including technology selection consultation, HDL coding, circuit design, chip layout, testing, and packaging services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard technical support included with CAD and chip fabrication services |
| Subscription | Annual | Subscription access for Canadian post-secondary institutions |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
CMC Microsystems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CMC Microsystems operates Canada's National Design Network, providing academic institutions and commercial organizations with subsidized subscription-based access to semiconductor design software (Cadence, Siemens, COMSOL, Synopsys, Keysight), Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) prototyping across GlobalFoundries, TSMC, ST, XFAB, Silterra, and VTT processes, cloud-hosted CAD environments, photonic and MEMS process technologies, quantum computing access, and Edge AI/IoT development platforms. It also manages the federally funded FABrIC semiconductor innovation network and runs training/incubation programs such as CMC basecamp, VIE, LAB2FAB, and TEXPO.
Product overview
CMC Microsystems operates as a not-for-profit organization providing Canada's semiconductor ecosystem with access to design software, prototyping, testing, and packaging for advanced technologies. The company's portfolio centers on MPW (Multi-Project Wafer) Prototyping services providing fabrication access to semiconductor processes including microelectronics (CMOS from ST, TSMC, GlobalFoundries), photonics (GlobalFoundries Silicon Photonics, AMF, Applied Nanotools), and MEMS/Nanofabrication. The EDA Tools and Cloud Hosting suite includes Cadence, Siemens, COMSOL, Synopsys, and Keysight tools accessed through CADpass licensing. Quantum Computing Services connect users to IBM Quantum Hub, Xanadu Quantum Cloud, and other providers. The IoT and Edge AI portfolio includes SwiftMote sensor platforms (original, Electrochemical, Electrochemical v2), AI training infrastructure (Tesla V100, Alveo U250 nodes), and acceleration hardware (Tenstorrent Grayskull, BARVINN). The CORE-V MCU and VEC platforms provide RISC-V based development for edge AI. Supporting programs include FABrIC (semiconductor innovation network), CMC basecamp (training), VIE (incubation), and LAB2FAB (research-to-fabrication workshops). The company enables research for over 11,000 researchers and 1,200+ companies across Canada's semiconductor ecosystem.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- FABrIC Innovation Network: A semiconductor innovation network managed by CMC Microsystems, funded by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) Strategic Response Fund, supporting both academic research and commercial application of semiconductor technology.
- CMC basecamp
- CADpass
- CMC SponsorChip
Products and services
- MPW Prototyping
- EDA Tools and Cloud Hosting
- CADpass
- CMC Cloud for Academics
- Advanced Design Services
- Quantum Computing Services
- AI Training Cloud
- Tenstorrent Grayskull e150 Accelerator
- BARVINN Neural Network Accelerator
- SwiftMote
- SwiftMote-Electrochemical
- SwiftMote-Electrochemical Version 2
- FPGA/GPU Cluster
- IoT Demonstrator for Smart Agriculture
- IoT Demonstrator for Condition Monitoring
- RISC-V Processor Design and Prototyping
- Heterogeneous Computing Middleware Platform (HCMP)
- AMD Vitis Unified Software Platform
- Arm Processor Design and Prototyping
- Keysight Optical Solutions Group Tools
- Synopsys Photonic System Tools
- Luceda IPKISS Photonics Design Tool
- Synopsys QuantumATK Academic Software
- Keysight PathWave Software
- CoventorMP MEMS Design Platform
- FABrIC Innovation Network
- CMC basecamp
- VIE (Virtual Incubator Environment)
- LAB2FAB
- MicroFAB Access
- Equipment Rental
Quantifiable outcome
- 40+ years of continuous operation supporting Canada's semiconductor ecosystem
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use CMC Microsystems
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CMC Microsystems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
AI capability6 records
Feature6 records
CMC Microsystems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC)corePartnership to strengthen Canada's semiconductor talent pipeline by developing training programs and creating work-integrated learning placements. Initiative aims to support Canada's sovereignty, security, and economic prosperity amid global technological competition.
- GlobalFoundriescoreChannel partnership with GlobalFoundries providing Canadian innovators access to GF semiconductor processes including GF Fotonix silicon photonics, 12LP, 28SLPe, and 55nm BCDLite technologies.
- TSMCmajorPartnership providing access to TSMC 28nm CMOS Process Technology (HPC+RF) for Canadian researchers and companies.
- STMicroelectronicsmajorPartnership providing access to ST 28nm FD SOI CMOS technology for Canadian semiconductor design.
- IBM Quantum Hub at Institut QuantiquecoreCMC is a member of the first IBM Quantum Hub at Institut Quantique, Université de Sherbrooke, offering quantum coding as a service and making quantum computing research more accessible to Canadian researchers.
- Xanadu Quantum CloudmajorPartnership providing access to Xanadu's photonic quantum computing cloud services for Canadian quantum research ecosystem.
- VTT Technical Research Centre of FinlandmajorPartnership for superconducting quantum device design and fabrication, including VTT Niobium SWAPS Junction Process and VTT Aluminum Junction Process for quantum computing applications.
- MNT World OrganizationsmajorAnnual convening of international peer organizations including ANFF (Australia), Europractice (Europe), VDEC (Japan), IDEC (South Korea), TSRI (Taiwan), and MOSIS (USA) for technology exchange and joint projects.
- OptoniquemajorCMC is a member of Optonique, the organization supporting Quebec's photonics industry ecosystem.
- Quantum Industry Canada (QIC)majorCMC is a member of Quantum Industry Canada, the national quantum industry organization, with Lisa Lambert (QIC CEO) serving on CMC's Board of Directors.
- Canadian Photonics Industry Consortium (CPIC)majorIndustry consortium member supporting Canada's photonics sector development and ecosystem coordination.
- National Research Council Canada (NRC)majorNRC Advanced Electronics and Photonics Research Centre collaborates through the CMC Advisory Committee and supports compound semiconductor ecosystem development.
- ventureLABminorventureLAB participates in discussions about pathways for Canadian companies to participate in defense procurement and dual-use technology development.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CMC Microsystems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MOSIS (USC Information Sciences Institute): US-based Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) brokerage providing shared-cost semiconductor prototyping services to universities and startups; CMC is explicitly listed as a peer organization in CMC's own MNT World convening, making this the closest direct functional peer.
- Circuits Multi-Projets (CMP): French MPW brokerage operated by Université Grenoble Alpes/CNRS that aggregates university chip designs onto shared foundry runs; offers the same multi-project wafer and IC prototyping model as CMC's MPW services.
- Europractice: European consortium providing academic and SME access to foundry services including MPW runs and EDA tools; structurally analogous to CMC's Canadian offering and explicitly named as a CMC MNT World peer.
- Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF): Australia's government-funded micro/nano-fabrication network providing shared infrastructure access to researchers; CMC lists ANFF as an MNT World partner, indicating direct peer status in the international microelectronics infrastructure community.
- VDEC (VLSI Design and Education Center): Japan's chip design support center at University of Tokyo providing EDA tools and foundry access to Japanese universities; named in CMC's MNT World partnership as an international counterpart in shared semiconductor design infrastructure.
Emerging players
- Silicon Catalyst: US-based semiconductor startup incubator and accelerator providing portfolio companies with EDA tool access, foundry shuttles, and business mentoring; comparable to CMC's VIE (Virtual Incubator Environment) program but operating commercially rather than as a not-for-profit.
Broad incumbents
- SkyWater Technology: US-based pure-play semiconductor foundry offering MPW services, mixed-signal and advanced packaging, including partnership with Google for open-source PDKs; a broader commercial alternative to CMC's MPW brokerage model.
- IMEC: Belgium-based leading microelectronics R&D hub offering process technology, MPW runs, and design support to academic and industry users; broader and more comprehensive than CMC but overlapping significantly in chip prototyping and advanced-node access.
Others
- Quantum Industry Canada (QIC): Canada's national quantum industry consortium; CMC is a member and shares board representation with QIC's CEO, making it a closely aligned ecosystem partner for CMC's quantum computing service portfolio.
- Optonique: Quebec's photonics industry cluster with which CMC is formally partnered; comparable ecosystem-coordinator role in a related vertical (photonics) that overlaps with CMC's silicon photonics MPW services.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CMC Microsystems social profiles
Digital presenceCMC Microsystems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CMC Microsystems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
CMC Microsystems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CMC Microsystems M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments5 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CMC Microsystems
What does CMC Microsystems do?
CMC Microsystems operates Canada's National Design Network, providing academic institutions and commercial organizations with subsidized subscription-based access to semiconductor design software (Cadence, Siemens, COMSOL, Synopsys, Keysight), Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) prototyping across GlobalFoundries, TSMC, ST, XFAB, Silterra, and VTT processes, cloud-hosted CAD environments, photonic and MEMS process technologies, quantum computing access, and Edge AI/IoT development platforms. It also manages the federally funded FABrIC semiconductor innovation network and runs training/incubation programs such as CMC basecamp, VIE, LAB2FAB, and TEXPO.
Is CMC Microsystems a public or private company?
CMC Microsystems is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was CMC Microsystems founded?
CMC Microsystems was founded in 1983. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is CMC Microsystems based?
CMC Microsystems is headquartered in Kingston, Canada, in the North America region.
How does CMC Microsystems make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are subscription Services and technical Support Services.
Who are CMC Microsystems's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MOSIS (USC Information Sciences Institute), Circuits Multi-Projets (CMP), Europractice, Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) and VDEC (VLSI Design and Education Center). Silicon Catalyst is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are SkyWater Technology and IMEC. Others are Quantum Industry Canada (QIC) and Optonique.
Does CMC Microsystems have an API?
No public API is recorded for CMC Microsystems.
What industry is CMC Microsystems in?
CMC Microsystems's product category is Semiconductor Design & Fabrication Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAGAIAB, QCaaS Platforms & Developer Portals, with a secondary code of HDAHAJAF, AI/Neural Processing Units (NPUs) & ML Accelerators. Its NAICS code is 54151 and its SIC code is 7373.