Exhibit 23.1


                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We consent to the  incorporation by reference in the Registration  Statements of
Atmel  Corporation on Form S-8 (File Nos.  33-39925,  33-93662 and 333-15823) of
our report  dated  January 16, 1997 on our audit of the  consolidated  financial
statements of Atmel  Corporation  and  subsidiaries  as of December 31, 1996 and
1995,  and for each of the three years in the period  ended  December  31, 1996,
which report has been  incorporated  by reference from the 1996 Annual Report to
Shareholders of Atmel  Corporation and our report dated January 16, 1997, on our
audit of the consolidated  financial statement schedule which report is included
in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.






                                                    /s/ Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.







San Jose, California
March 27, 1997