Not long ago, Cadence’s Chin-Chi Teng and I had a fascinating discussion about how ML is reshaping EDA and the semiconductor industry, the cloud’s role in the evolution of ML in design and its impact on Moore’s Law. 

The post is a good look at Cadence’s leadership at the technological forefront in incorporating ML techniques in its chip design products. It’s a great reminder as well that Cadence’s President and CEO Dr. Anirudh Devgan will be honored with the 2021 Phil Kaufman Award for Distinguished Contributions to Electronic System Design at an award ceremony and banquet Thursday, May 12.

I hope you’ll join us in honoring Anirudh. Registration details can be found on the 2021 Phil Kaufman Award ceremony and banquet page.

Machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) have ushered in tremendous opportunities for faster growth, problem-solving and technological development in the electronic system design ecosystem. Cadence Design Systems, Inc., a member of the ESD Alliance, a SEMI Technology Community, is at the technological forefront in incorporating ML techniques in its chip design products.

I spoke with Chin-Chi Teng, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Cadence’s Digital & Signoff Group, about how ML is reshaping EDA and the semiconductor industry, the cloud’s role in the evolution of ML in design and its impact on Moore’s Law. Teng also offers advice on how engineering students can calibrate their education to prepare to work with this transformative technology and urges them to have fun in the process.

Smith: How is ML changing the EDA industry?

Teng: ML is changing EDA for the better in many ways. It’s more difficult than ever to design chips, and ML is helping by overcoming the complexity, size and technology interdependencies. At the same time, ML is helping our own engineers solve certain classes of EDA algorithm, tool, and flow/solution challenges so that we can deliver even better EDA tools to our user base.
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A reminder that our first in-person CEO Outlook in three years is next week and you’re invited.

We’re expecting plenty of networking, good cheer, delicious food and, of course, questions for our panelists: Anirudh Devgan of Cadence Design Systems, Niels Fache from Keysight Technologies, Aki Fujimura of D2S, Siemens EDA’s Joe Sawicki and Simon Segars of Arm. Ed Sperling, editor in chief of Semiconductor Engineering, moderates what will be an insightful discussion.

The in-person event, co-sponsored by Keysight, will be held Thursday, April 28, at Agilent’s Building 5 at 5301 Stevens Creek Blvd. in Santa Clara, Calif., beginning at 5:30 p.m. with networking, food and beverages. The hour-long panel starts at 6:30 p.m. and is free for ESD Alliance and SEMI members. Pricing for non-members is $49 per person. More details and registration can be found at:  https://bit.ly/3M728BA

Of course, this is a great opportunity to get to know the ESD Alliance, our members and our ongoing series of networking and educational events, programs and initiatives. Our Annual Membership meeting for members will be held prior to the start of the CEO Outlook beginning at 5 p.m. Non-members are welcome to attend if they purchase a ticket for the CEO Outlook.

Contact me at bsmith@semi.org if you have questions or need more information. Or, seek me out at next week’s CEO Outlook.

Engage with the ESD Alliance at:

Website: www.esd-alliance.org

ESD Alliance Bridging the Frontier blog

Twitter: @ESDAlliance

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Here’s some great news for members of the electronic system design community! Our part of the semiconductor industry continued to report double-digit year-over-year revenue growth for Q4 2021 and ended 2021 with $13.2 billion total market revenue, based on our latest Electronic Design Market Data (EDMD) report.

Revenue increased 14.4% from $3,031.5 million in Q4 2020 to $3,468.2 million in Q4 2021.The four-quarter moving average comparing the most recent four quarters to the prior four rose 15.8 %. “Computer-Aided Engineering, Printed Circuit Board and Multi-Chip Module, Semiconductor Intellectual Property categories, and Services recorded double-digit growth for the quarter,” remarked Wally Rhines, Executive Sponsor of the SEMI EDMD report, in announcing the results. “Geographically, the Americas, EMEA and AsiaPac all reported revenue growth.”

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