Last week’s news that the electronic system design industry revenue increased by more than $1 billion in 2020 marks a new milestone for our ecosystem. It is also the first report from our renamed Electronic Design Market Data (EDMD), formerly known as the Market Statistics Service (MSS).

A quick recap of the news release highlights some impressive numbers. For example, revenue increased 15.4% in Q4 2020 to $3,031.5 million, compared to $2,626.3 million in Q4 2019, representing only the fourth time since 2011 that year-over-year growth exceeded 15%. The four-quarter moving average that compares the most recent four quarters to the prior four quarters, rose by 11.6%, the highest annual growth since 2011 and the second highest in the last 14 years.

For more details, check out the news release, “ESD Alliance Reports Strong Electronic System Design Industry Revenue Growth for Q4 2020.”

With such positive news, I expect this year’s CEO Outlook to be especially informative, though don’t expect any of our panelists to comment directly on revenue or forecasts. Instead, they will offer their insights on the state of the Electronic System Design industry along with their views of the outlook for the coming year.

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SEMI’s first Technology Unites Global Summit last month offered a wealth of presentations celebrating the semiconductor industry. One standout panel expressly highlighted the innovations of the small but mighty electronic system design (ESD) community represented by the ESD Alliance, a SEMI Technology Community.

The panel, “Innovating for the Future! Electronic System Design –– Where Microelectronics Begins,” promoted the importance of the Electronic System Design ecosystem and its far-ranging reach throughout the global electronic products market segment. While promotion of our ecosystem was the goal, the panel offered a great opportunity to listen to six remarkable individuals, all of whom have made their mark within our community.

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The ESD Alliance and its Governing Council mourn the unexpected death of Jim Hogan, a noted industry investor, mentor, benefactor and philanthropist. His many contributions to our industry will long be remembered.

On behalf of the ESD Alliance, thank you Jim for your heartfelt, long-term commitment to the semiconductor design ecosystem and our community.

Simon Segars                                               Bob Smith                                        

CEO, Arm                                                      Executive Director, ESD Alliance

Governing Board Chair, ESD Alliance        A SEMI Technology Community

James H. Hogan

1951-2021 

If you would like to honor Jim, his family suggests making a donation to
CASA For Children of Santa Cruz County

Our segment of the $2-trillion global electronic products market may be small but we are mighty, populated with superstars whose unrivaled contributions to the semiconductor design industry helped grow it to where it is today.

Alas, only 25 of our superstars have been honored with the Phil Kaufman Award for Distinguished Contributions to Electronic System Design since 1994. Some of the more deserving died before they were recognized for their efforts that today fortify the entire global semiconductor and electronic products markets.

Because deceased members of the community are not eligible to receive the Phil Kaufman Award due to a policy set by the IEEE, the award sponsors took action. The ESD Alliance and the IEEE Council on Electronic Design Automation (CEDA) are rolling out the Phil Kaufman Hall of Fame to posthumously recognize our superstars who shaped our community through creativity, entrepreneurism, innovation and inspiration.
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In my role as executive director of the ESD Alliance, I meet all kinds of interesting decision makers, from seasoned C-suite leaders to entrepreneurs and innovators who contribute to the greatness of our electronic system design ecosystem.

That greatness is the inspiration for a panel, “Innovating for the Future! Electronic System Design –– Where Microelectronics Begins,” during SEMI’s Technology Unites Global Summit to be held Monday-Friday, February 15-19.
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In the middle of the pandemic, I’m pleased to share good news about the electronic system design ecosystem! Revenue for our part of the semiconductor industry increased 15% in Q3 2020 to $2,953.9 million, compared to $2,567.7 million in Q3 2019.

All categories, both product and regional, logged significant gains, according to the ESD Alliance Market Statistics Service (MSS), the quintessential report on EDA, IP and services industry revenue data available quarterly to member companies.

Revenue for the electronic system design ecosystem increased 15% in Q3 2020 to $2,953.9 million, compared to $2,567.7 million in Q3 2019.

Computer Aided Engineering (CAE), semiconductor IP and services categories and, regionally, the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa and Asia Pacific reported double-digit growth. The semiconductor IP category and the Asia Pacific region both surpassed $1 billion in quarterly revenue. Public and private companies contribute to data and employed 47,087 people in Q3 2020, a 4.8% increase over the Q3 2019 headcount of 44,950 and up 1.1% compared to Q2 2020.

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Happy Holidays from the ESD Alliance, a SEMI Technology Community, and best wishes for 2021!

The Phil Kaufman Award for Distinguished Contributions to Electronic System Design goes on hiatus this year.

Members of the selection committee from the sponsors –– the ESD Alliance and the IEEE Council on Electronic Design Automation (CEDA) –– made the difficult decision to postpone this year’s award until September 2021. Anyone who’s attended the dinner ceremony knows it is central to celebrating the recipient’s contributions to the industry and accomplishments. Hosting an in-person awards dinner in early 2021 is unlikely, which made postponing the 2020 award inevitable.

Nevertheless, nominations submitted in 2020 will be treated as new nominations for 2021. As always, past nominations from 2017 through 2019 will also be considered for 2021. Additional nominations will be solicited in early 2021.

The Phil Kaufman Award is the Oscars, Grammys and Tony Award for the electronic system design ecosystem all rolled into one. First presented in 1994, it honors individuals who have had an impact on the field of electronic system design through technology innovations, education/mentoring, or business or industry leadership. The award was established as a tribute to Phil Kaufman, the late industry pioneer who turned innovative technologies into commercial businesses that have benefited electronic designers. Since 1994, recipients include academics, technologists, entrepreneurs, business leaders and investors.

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Our industry portals are filled daily with news about the electronic products chain, all reinforcing the importance of system design and the transformation it has gone through over recent years. Growth and transformation are happening also within the electronic system design ecosystem as it continues to support the designer community.

In the early days of Electronic Design Automation (EDA), designers were afforded schematic capture tools and wowed by the remarkable breakthrough. These days, chip design favors a high-level system-oriented methodology and schematic entry is rarely seen. Complex SoCs never dreamed of in the 1980s drive the many and varied technologies and solutions now available. The electronic system design ecosystem, as well, is varied and broadened from EDA to include semiconductor IP, embedded software, 3D IC design and advanced packaging for system scaling and service companies that provide design know-how and resources.

Tracking the progress and growth of the electronic system design ecosystem is the Electronic System Design Alliance, embracing the changes and promoting the message that design is where electronics begins. The $10-billion electronic system design market segment is supplying the tools and infrastructure to streamline chip design and enable emerging applications and other advances underlying the $2 Trillion global market for electronic products.

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Note: This blog post originally appeared on ESD Alliance member Cylynt’s website.

Preview: Bob Smith, executive director of the ESD Alliance, a SEMI Technology Community, will present at the Cylynt Software Monetization and Anti-Piracy Summit  October 28-29. In this blog he previews what he will discuss at the event.

Industry trade organizations can be highly effective resources, filling many roles within a market ecosystem and representing all its members equally. The offerings can vary widely but typically include initiatives that focus on reducing risk, promoting growth and efficiency and delivering events, education and market information to the membership.

ESD Alliance Role

Trade organizations act as the central voice of the market they serve. In the case of the Electronic System Design Alliance (a SEMI Technology Community), we speak out on behalf of the semiconductor chip design ecosystem. It’s our job to position design as the critical first step in the creation of any new electronic product. Without an innovative design ecosystem, the electronic devices we rely on wouldn’t exist.

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