National Research University of Electronic Technology (MIET) and Synopsys Enable Large-Scale Use of Synopsys' Galaxy Custom Designer Solution in an Educational Environment

-- Joint Master's Program Trains Analog/Mixed-Signal Engineers for Russia's Growing High-tech Industry

MOSCOW, Aug. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- National Research University of Electronic Technology (MIET) and Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS), a global leader providing software, IP and services used to accelerate innovation in chips and electronic systems, today announced the addition of new courses to the Synopsys-MIET two-year master's program that will enable large-scale use of Synopsys' Galaxy Custom Designer® in an educational environment. With these additional courses, Synopsys-MIET master's program students will enhance their knowledge and skills to become highly qualified specialists ready to address the rapidly growing demand for analog/mixed-signal and custom chip design in Russia.

"Our collaboration with Synopsys makes it possible for us to provide our joint program students with a state-of-the-art educational environment with fully licensed versions of Synopsys' comprehensive, industry-leading electronic design automation University Tools Package, including Galaxy Custom Designer, and up-to-date customized curricula," said MIET Rector Yuri A. Chaplygin, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. "To date, 129 graduate students and four students with Ph.D.'s have graduated from the Synopsys-MIET joint program and now work at leading semiconductor companies, contributing to Russia's growing high-tech industry."

"We appreciate the great work MIET and Synopsys are doing in education enhancing student's knowledge. Mikron has a long history of cooperation with MIET; many graduates started their careers at Mikron. Sixteen years ago we established a basic chair of 'Submicron VLSI technology' in MIET with a view to preparing qualified personnel for our foundry and design labs," said Gennady Krasnikov, head of Mikron JSC.

"MIET's cooperation with Synopsys reaffirms the university's role as Russia's premier institution for technical education," said Gregor Wiethaler, area sales director for Synopsys. "Synopsys invests in this educational program because we recognize the importance of preparing the next generation of engineers in Russia for careers in analog and custom design. Russia's high-tech industry shows great potential and Synopsys looks forward to seeing the contributions these graduates can make to the country's microelectronics design industry."

Galaxy Custom Designer in the Synopsys-MIET Master's Program

The four new analog/mixed signal courses will augment the existing Synopsys-MIET two-year master's program. Each student in the program will now have access to a fully licensed version of Synopsys' electronic design automation (EDA) University Tools Package that includes Galaxy Custom Designer. The curriculum, developed by Synopsys Armenia Educational Department as part of the Synopsys Worldwide University Program, is comprised of ten courses and more than 60 labs and course projects. To keep the program up to date, Synopsys and MIET regularly evaluate and adjust the curriculum and technologies to ensure they adequately address current industry needs and requirements.

Galaxy Custom Designer® leverages Synopsys' Galaxy™ Design Platform to provide a unified solution for cell-based and custom designs, thereby enhancing SoC design efficiency and productivity. Built from the ground up, Custom Designer was architected for productivity. It is the first-ever custom implementation solution built on an open architecture supporting interoperable process design kits (PDKs) from leading foundries. Custom Designer delivers unmatched productivity with a common use model for simulation, analysis, parasitic extraction and physical verification.

In addition to facilitating innovation with its open architecture, Custom Designer dramatically enhances productivity by seamlessly bridging the gap between the historically disparate worlds of digital and custom design. Custom Designer enables complete data transparency with Synopsys' IC Compiler™ physical implementation solution, allowing the exchange of vital information during floorplanning, placement, routing and final chip editing to reduce time-consuming design iterations.

To enable state-of-the-art IC design in an educational environment without violating IP restrictions, Synopsys provides students with educational resources such as educational design kits (EDKs) and iPDKs for 90-nanometer (nm) and 32/28-nm technologies.

The iPDKs are specifically intended for use with Synopsys' Galaxy Custom Designer in an educational environment.

Building on the program's achievements Synopsys and MIET are extending their joint educational master's program at MIET for another two years. The original agreement was signed in 2006 with a focus on training highly qualified specialists in the field of IC Design at the Synopsys-MIET Educational Center. Cooperation has expanded to other domains such as participation of Synopsys-MIET program students in the Annual International Microelectronics Olympiad of Armenia, MB-JASS. To stimulate Russian students' interest in microelectronics, the program students launched a new initiative in June of this year to provide lectures to Zelenograd's school students. Synopsys-MIET program volunteers worked together with the Summer School of MIET "Computer Learning Center," the leading training center of Zelenogradsky Administrative Okrug, to present school students with a series of lectures about IC manufacturing and design.

About Synopsys Worldwide University Program

The Synopsys University Program has been providing technology-leading EDA tools and resources for teaching and academic research since 1986. The program serves thousands of professors and students in more than 1,800 educational institutes worldwide. Prior to joining the workforce, engineering students receive hands-on experience — in the classroom and in graduate-level research programs — providing them with the necessary skills to meet the difficult challenges of IC and SoC design and enabling them to be quickly productive when entering the fast-paced world of semiconductor technology. Universities enrolled in the program receive state-of-the-art commercial-grade EDA tools along with curriculum development assistance, and training and technology to support education, enable academic research, foster innovation, and promote careers in microelectronic design. Learn more at www.synopsys.com/Community/UniversityProgram.

About National Research University of Electronic Technology "MIET"

National Research University of Electronic Technology "MIET" (formerly the Moscow Institute of Electronic Technology) was founded in 1965 and is located in Zelenograd. MIET provides excellent training through highly skilled faculty/staff - including more than 100 Doctors of Science and over 300 Ph.D.'s. The university has created one of the most developed logistical infrastructures in Russia, modern training programs have been developed together with the employers – the fundamental knowledge in physics, mathematics and computer science, along with in-depth study of foreign languages, expert training in management and marketing provide a high quality education. MIET cooperates with leading universities in Europe and the United States and participates in "double degree" programs where full-time students do their practical work at MIET scientific laboratories and subdivisions, as well as at Moscow and Zelenograd companies. A program of elite professional training is carried out at MIET in cooperation with a number of foreign leaders in the electronics industry. Learn more at http://eng.miet.ru/ .

About Synopsys, Inc. and Synopsys Armenia CJSC

Synopsys, Inc. accelerates innovation in the global electronics market. As a leader in EDA and semiconductor IC, its software, IP and services help engineers address their design, verification, system and manufacturing challenges. Since 1986, engineers around the world have been using Synopsys technology to design and create billions of chips and systems. Synopsys established a presence in Armenia in 2004 as Synopsys Armenia closed joint stock company (CJSC). Synopsys Armenia CJSC provides R&D and product support in EDA, design for manufacturing (DFM) and the development of semiconductor intellectual property (IP). Employing several hundred qualified Armenian engineers, Synopsys is one of largest IT employers in Armenia. To encourage the highest levels of accomplishment for students in IT, the company sponsors several awards and competitions. Synopsys Armenia's investment in the community reaches well beyond IT. In 2010, Synopsys in Armenia was recognized as one of 12 finalists for the U.S. Secretary of State's annual Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE), citing the company's technology and financial leadership as well as its charity work and volunteer activities. Synopsys Armenia CJSC is located in Yerevan. Synopsys, Inc. is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and has approximately 70 offices located throughout North America, Europe, Japan, Asia and India. Visit Synopsys, Inc. and Synopsys Armenia online at www.synopsys.com and www.synopsys.am.

Editorial Contacts:

Dmitry Kovalenko
MIET
(7499) 720-87-27
(7926) 572-25-00
media@miee.ru

Gayane Markosyan
Synopsys Armenia CJSC
(374 10) 492-356
(374 94) 492-204
gayanem@synopsys.com