CERN Releases Its Extensive KiCad Component Library as Open Source

CERN has announced the release of its complete KiCad component library under an open source licence, making it available to designers worldwide. KiCad is a free and open source software suite for designing printed circuit boards, originally developed in 1992. The library contains more than 17,000 electronic components, including symbols for schematics and footprints for layouts. This resource has been maintained by CERN’s Design Office (BE-CEM-EPR), where hardware designers typically create schematics before delegating layout tasks. The release aligns with CERN’s long-standing commitment to open source principles, following its pioneering move to open source the World Wide Web software in 1994. It builds on efforts like the CERN Open Hardware Licence, support for open access publishing via SCOAP³, and open data initiatives through the LHC experiments’ Open Data Portal, all central to CERN’s Open Science Policy. By providing this library in an open format with an open-source tool, CERN enhances accessibility, collaboration, and knowledge sharing in hardware design. Users can now freely study, modify, and redistribute the components, complementing designs in the Open Hardware Repository. This contribution, guided by the Electronics Design Automation Committee (EDAC) and the Open Source Programme Office (OSPO), reinforces CERN’s role in promoting open source hardware. It enables broader participation in projects, faster iterations, and wider dissemination of expertise without software licensing barriers, fostering innovation in electronics design globally.