Objective
Modern chips are no longer designed in isolation. Instead, they are assembled from numerous third-party intellectual property (IP) blocks that are exchanged and reused across complex global supply chains. While this modular ecosystem is convenient for development, it also exposes valuable design assets to reverse engineering and unauthorized reuse. These risks are rapidly increasing with the emergence of AI models for code understanding, such as large language models, which can infer the functionality and intent of hardware designs. Existing protection mechanisms provide only limited protection against AI-assisted design analysis.
The ERC Proof-of-Concept project, MIRAGE, led by Ahmad-Reza Sadeghi, addresses this very challenge. It automatically transforms RTL code — the hardware description language used for chip circuitry — in a way that preserves its functionality while rendering it virtually unrecognizable to AI systems. This allows companies to share their designs more securely, without exposing commercially sensitive information. MIRAGE builds on HYDRANOS, a project awarded an ERC Advanced Grant in 2022, which protects chips against unknown attacks by enabling security-critical components to be adapted after manufacturing. MIRAGE now extends this protection upstream, to the level of the design itself.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2026-POC
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
64289 Darmstadt
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.