Apr 6 2009
Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS), a world leader in software and IP for semiconductor design and manufacturing and KACST, the King Abdulaziz City of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to form a Center of Excellence for Nanoelectronic Design at KACST. This memorandum agreement also includes plans for creating a hub that can provide advanced electronic design automation (EDA) software and curriculum to Saudi Arabia's universities. The goal of the collaboration is to enable the development of a nanoelectronics-based ecosystem in Saudi Arabia.
KACST and Synopsys plan to support this objective by enabling a KACST Center of Excellence for Nanoelectronic Design, which would include a nanotechnology and nanoelectronics infrastructure, state-of-the-art computing environment, electronic design environment and nanoelectronics design flow, and advanced training and staffing by experienced Synopsys or Synopsys-trained personnel.
Synopsys and KACST intend for the KACST Center of Excellence for Nanoelectronic Design to serve as a central point of contact for Saudi universities and research centers, facilitating access to Synopsys' advanced EDA software and curriculum and providing world-class industry seminars, workshops and conferences. The Center is also expected to maintain productive relationships with world class electronics companies.
"KACST, in its implementation of the national Science Technology and Innovation Policy, works with leading organizations in the world. We believe that partnering with Synopsys, a world leader in this field, will benefit the research community in the Kingdom and facilitate the utilization of advanced technological services that will be provided through our joint Center of Excellence," said Prince Turki ibn Saud ibn Mohammed of Saudi Arabia.
"As the leader in electronic design automation, Synopsys carefully chooses to collaborate with entities that are also leaders. KACST is an R&D leader in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a natural teammate for us as we develop our presence in the Kingdom and work to bring the world's most advanced EDA technology to its universities and advanced research organizations," said Rich Goldman, vice president of Corporate Marketing and Strategic Alliances at Synopsys. "We welcome the opportunity to work with KACST to help promote a knowledge-based society in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."