Design Automation
very well. EDA evolves slower compared to (Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence) model
advances in Semiconductors. The future trends and adopt it?
indicate that devices may no longer be CMOS There is also another unique challenge that
and newer ones like nanotechnology based on the EDA industry has to face sooner rather than
carbon nano-tubes, bio devices, organic devices later! The electronics industry is already using
and the like. The same design methodologies Open Source tools and the usage is increasing,
that we use today will obviously be of no use. especially in the software areas.
The EDA industry will need to put a laser Though the Freeware and Openware for the
sharp focus on creating flows, methodologies chip design segment has not become
and tools to align with such emerging device mainstream yet, there is a positive trend towards
technologies. Disruptive technologies in EDA this and such tools are able to offer better
evolve once in approximately 18 years and one stability and accuracy. In the coming years,
is due now. The last one which changed the way designers and companies will be unwilling to pay
designs were done was the evolution of HDLs huge $$ to license EDA tools and instead will
which in turn led to the concept of synthesis. opt to use Openware wherever possible. The
EDA companies will have to take a note of this
What is likely to be the next one? factor in the near future.
Chip design has become highly complex and is
likely to remain so in the coming years. Today Emerging Markets
the design team needs huge computing It is evident that designs are shifting towards
environments to run the EDA tools and progress addressing the India/China markets which are
with their designs. This is unimaginably witnessing huge changes. There is a growing
34
expensive and becomes a deterrent for a larger middle class segment whose purchasing ability is
base of engineers to afford them. moving upwards by the day. This is creating a
www
Can the EDA industry think of ways to large market for global companies and naturally
.eur address this issue? Can EDA tools run efficiently they are aiming to bring out products addressing
oasiasemiconductor
on ‘rudimentary’ laptops and desktops enabling these specific markets. In addition, increasing
even students to carry on designs sitting at their use of semiconductor devices in end-user
homes? Can the EDA industry look at the SETI segments is driving the Asian EDA Tools market.
Another interesting fact from the EDA
Consortium indicates that the semiconductor
and electronic design industry is continuing its
.com
gradual shift out of North America
and shifting Eastwards! EDA
revenues from the rest-of-world
square4
Issue VIII 2009
category—presumably fueled
by expansion in China and
India—jumped 20+ percent.
EDA companies will have to
take cognizance of these
shifts, look at specific
cultural aspects involved and
fine tune their offerings and
support in these geographies.
For example, all the four major EDA players
have a well established setup in India. This
involvement spans across support and
development. They have also toyed with
developing innovative business models within
Indian companies.
Despite this, one is not sure if the EDA
companies’ researchers within India are
accessible to the larger Indian Design
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