The InnoStar project, a collaborative initiative under the PENTA and EURIPIDES Eureka Clusters managed by AENEAS, has successfully delivered critical innovations in next-generation wireless technology, strengthening Europe's competitive position in 5G and the emerging 6G landscape.

The consortium united major industrial firms, SMEs, and research organizations across Europe to tackle a core industry challenge: enabling high-performance communication systems that operate beyond current frequency limitations. The project specifically focused on advancing millimetre-wave (mmWave) technologies for frequencies above 100 GHz, developing new design methodologies, simulation tools, and integration techniques.

Key technical outcomes include significant advancements in design and simulation. The project created new electronic design automation (EDA) building blocks and methodologies, which improve performance prediction accuracy by 20–30% and accelerate time-to-market for advanced semiconductor systems. In hardware, InnoStar achieved major efficiency gains, including up to a 60% reduction in power dissipation and a 10–20% reduction in component size—crucial for scalable 5G/6G infrastructure and radar applications.

The project also produced high-frequency demonstrators for real-world use cases: a 100 GHz antenna array solution for telecommunications and a 160 GHz radar front-end system for automotive sensing. These prototypes enable higher data rates, improved sensing accuracy, and greater system reliability.

By engaging the full value chain—from design tools and manufacturing to testing—InnoStar has reinforced Europe's capacity to innovate and industrialize advanced semiconductor technologies. Beyond the technical milestones, the project supports Europe's strategic autonomy in microelectronics and opens substantial market opportunities in telecommunications, automotive, and IoT. Its results pave the way for more energy-efficient, high-performance systems that will form the backbone of future digital infrastructure.

InnoStar exemplifies how collaborative R&D within the Eureka Cluster framework can translate cutting-edge research into tangible industrial impact, bolstering Europe's competitiveness in the global semiconductor arena.

The InnoStar project, launched under PENTA and EURIPIDES Eureka Clusters operated by AENEAS, has delivered key advances in next-generation wireless technologies, positioning Europe at the forefront of 5G and future 6G innovation.

Bringing together major industry players, SMEs, and research organisations across Europe, InnoStar addressed one of the sector’s biggest challenges: enabling high-performance communication systems beyond current frequency limits. The project focused on developing new design methods, simulation tools, and integration approaches for millimetre-wave (mmWave) technologies operating above 100 GHz.

Key developments and results include:

Breakthrough design and simulation tools

New methodologies and electronic design automation (EDA) building blocks were developed, improving performance prediction by up to 20–30% and accelerating time-to-market for advanced semiconductor systems.

More efficient and compact systems

The project achieved significant gains in hardware efficiency, including up to 60% reduction in power dissipation and 10–20% reduction in component size—critical for scalable 5G/6G and radar applications.

High-frequency demonstrators for real-world applications

InnoStar delivered cutting-edge demonstrators, including:

100 GHz antenna array solutions for telecommunications

160 GHz radar front-end systems for automotive sensing

These innovations support higher data rates, improved sensing accuracy, and enhanced system reliability.

Strengthened European value chain collaboration

By covering the full value chain—from design tools to manufacturing and testing—the project reinforced Europe’s capacity to innovate and industrialise advanced semiconductor technologies.

Beyond technical achievements, InnoStar contributes to Europe’s strategic autonomy in microelectronics and unlocks major market opportunities in telecommunications, automotive, and IoT. Its results pave the way for more energy-efficient, high-performance systems that will underpin future digital infrastructure.

Overall, InnoStar demonstrates how collaborative innovation within the Eureka Cluster framework can translate cutting-edge research into tangible industrial impact—supporting Europe’s competitiveness in the global semiconductor race.

Discover more in the InnoStar Project Impact Summary.

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