Extension of RD53 for 3 years to finalize pixel chips for the ATLAS and CMS pixel detector upgrades

The RD53 collaboration was established in 2013 to develop next generation radiation hard pixel readout chips for the High Luminosity LHC detector upgrades. It has been agreed with the ATLAS and CMS experiments that RD53 will deliver final production version chips to the two experiments. Final pixel chips will be optimized for each experiment, having minor differences: chip size and analogue front-end, but will otherwise have identical functions and be based on a common design and verification framework developed in RD53. Full sized pixel chip prototypes have recently been made for each experiment. The ATLAS chip is currently under exhaustive testing at chip, module and system level. The CMS chip is in final sign-off verification and prototyping in the 65nm foundry. This proposal is to extend the RD53 collaboration for further 3 years to submit final production version chips during 2022 and assure required exhaustive testing and radiation qualification and necessary support to the experiments for their final integration into the pixel detectors of both experiments during 2023-2024. The current status of RD53 pixel chips are shortly summarized and a proposed work plan to make final chips are outlined.