News

Increasing Use of Semiconductor Devices in End-User Segments Ensuring Market Growth in the Asian EDA Tools Market

DUBLIN, Ireland-(Business Wire)-May 2, 2008 - Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c90644) has announced the addition of "Asian EDA Tools Market" to their offering.

This Frost & Sullivan research service titled Asian EDA Tools Markets provides a detailed analysis of the Asian electronic design automation (EDA) tools market (excluding Japan) from 2003 to 2013. In this research, Frost & Sullivan's expert analysts thoroughly examine the following markets: computer-aided engineering (CAE) tools, IC physical design and verification, and PCB layout tools. Intellectual property (IP) and EDA services.

Value-added applications across various segments such as defense and healthcare are driving the need for novel electronic design automation (EDA) technologies .The automotive industry is yet another growth opportunity for analog EDA tool vendors because of the increased use of electronics in vehicles. New consumer electronic products are also being introduced and the need for IC customization with low cost and increased complexity has to be met by these next-generation EDA tools. This driver is likely to have a high impact on the market throughout the forecast period.

However, the high degree of technical change within the semiconductor industry, particularly shrinking design geometrics, is a major challenge for the EDA industry. While traditional concerns regarding chip design centered on speed and the chip area, there are now concerns relating to power, signal integrity, yield, and metal migration. These require new tools as well as upgrades to existing tools such as new or enhanced design-for-test and design-for-manufacturability functionality. "Although the complexity of EDA tools has increased, the revenue generated remains limited," notes the analyst of this research service. "Significant EDA revenue growth is important for customers as well as vendors because it funds the R&D activities that make the development of new tools and upgrades possible."

Advanced Semiconductor Nodes Driving Semiconductor Manufacturers to Invest in New EDA Tools

Investment in new tools and technologies for 90 nm and 45 nm semiconductor design is increasing rapidly. Designers are increasingly moving to advanced nodes, since the smaller die size can reduce cost, boost capacity, and allow more integration of functionality on a single chip. Design activity at 90 nm node is the fastest growing area driving the need for improved EDA tools. EDA tools at 90 nm node for 300 mm wafers need to keep pace with the design needs of the customers. The present EDA tools for 90 nm designs will be further useful at 65 nm and 45 nm nodes. The impact of this driver is likely to be high throughout the forecast period.

Overall, while the world EDA tools market has grown at just over 3 to 4 percent, the Asian market (excluding Japan) has shown double-digit growth and is expected to continue to grow at a healthy rate of 11 to 14 percent in the coming years. In Asia, the Taiwanese market is said to be the biggest and the South Korean, Indian, and Chinese markets are growing at a rapid pace. "Consumer electronics is the fastest growing applications market in Asia," says the analyst. "The other popular applications markets are telecom, industrial controls, electronic instruments, and medical instruments."

Technologies

The following technologies are covered in this research:

— Application specific integrated circuits (ASIC)

— Electronic system level design (ESL)

— Design for manufacturing (DFM)

— Field programmable gate array (FPGA)

Market Sectors

Expert Frost & Sullivan analysts thoroughly examine the following market sectors in this research:

— Computer Aided Engineering (CAD) Tools

— IC Physical Design and Verification Tools

— PCB Layout Tools

— Semiconductor Intellectual Property (IP)