TIER IV Joins Belgium's imec to Pioneer Open Hardware for Autonomous Vehicles
Leuven, Wednesday 11 March 2026
Japanese autonomous driving firm TIER IV has joined Leuven’s imec to develop modular AI accelerators. This crucial partnership frees automakers from single-vendor reliance, establishing open standards for future vehicles.
The Shift Towards Modular Semiconductor Architectures
The collaboration centres on imec’s Automotive Chiplet Program (ACP), a pre-competitive industry initiative designed to forge new semiconductor architectures for the automotive sector [1]. By leveraging chiplet technology, which assembles discrete, specialised semiconductor components into modular systems, automakers can optimise vehicle performance without being tethered to a single proprietary hardware vendor [1][2]. For TIER IV, the objective is to align its open-source Autoware software stack with these emerging chiplet standards, ensuring seamless compatibility across various system-on-chip (SoC) architectures and sensors [1][2].
Catalysing the European Deep-Tech Ecosystem
The push towards advanced chiplet designs has profound implications for the broader semiconductor value chain, particularly within Europe [GPT]. The fabrication and advanced packaging of these modular chips rely heavily on cutting-edge equipment, such as the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines produced by the Netherlands’ ASML and the atomic layer deposition tools from ASM [GPT]. By anchoring the ACP in Leuven, imec is effectively channelling international mobility innovation through the Benelux technology corridor, reinforcing the region’s dominance in next-generation chip design [GPT].
Fostering Strategic Autonomy and Resilience
Beyond technical innovation, the imec and TIER IV partnership represents a crucial step towards European strategic autonomy in the automotive sector [GPT]. The global semiconductor shortages of recent years exposed the vulnerabilities of relying on rigid, single-source supply chains [GPT]. By establishing open hardware standards for automotive-grade systems, the ACP democratises access to cutting-edge silicon and fosters a more resilient, diversified supply chain [2][GPT]. Shinpei Kato, Founder and Chief Executive of TIER IV, emphasised that their strategy ensures autonomous driving can adapt to any platform, harmonising open-source software with silicon based on open standards [1][2].