>t'd be fabulous if atomic went the Open PDK route like Skywater 130nm: https://skywater-pdk.readthedocs.io/en/main/ but even a setup with a 'here's the fab price list click here to pay us $x'000k and sign our NDA to get access' would be a big step forward. Combined with reduced manufacturing costs it would make it far easier for smaller players to experiment with custom silicon.

Yeah, but the business model of providing accessible standard CMOS technology would not really require building new tools, wouldn't it? I think the appeal would be in being able to build devices in highly customized technology.This would require fast learning cycles at low cost. Not really something a MPW helps with.