In 1996, the Digital Electronics Laboratory (LEN) of the engineering school (EIVD) starts its research & development (R&D) activities. The team is composed of three professors, Etienne Messerli, Maurice Gaumain and Serge Boada, and an engineer.

At this time, programmable logic devices undergo an accelerated evolution. GAL's, which used to be the most represented programmable devices tend to disappear. These devices are replaced by more and more complex CPLD's and FPGA's, available at competitive prices, leading to new domains of applications. At the same time, design methods are evolving, in particular with the introduction of highly effective software tools allowing the use of high-level languages (VHDL, Verilog) and more effective simulators.

During the late 90's, the LEN specializes in these new technologies and introduces them to local industries. Many forums and courses are organized in order to provide support to the companies in deploying these new devices.

In the early 2000's, the first research project is realized. The goal is to develop a PCI-2.0 interface VHDL-IP. In this context, the LEN realizes an automated test bench with timing verification. The acquired competences allow the LEN to develop several laboratory boards as well as an implementation of the didactic MU0 processor, completely described in VHDL. These tools are very well suited for the education of the school's students.