IMEC and STARC to advance SoC design methods

IMEC and STARC are to collaborate on the development of novel methodologies for SoC design.

IMEC and STARC are to collaborate on the development of novel methodologies for SoC design.

IMEC and STARC will build their future developments of SoC design methodology using each other's design assets.

STARC is responsible for developing design technologies for 0.1-0.07um SoCs within the Asuka Project.

Both IMEC and STARC believe that reuse of high-level descriptions and properties of hardware and software IP (intellectual property) will be of utmost importance in novel design methodologies and tools.

By 2005, 90% of a system-on-chip design will be based on the reuse of components, so future design environments will need to concentrate on facilitating IP reuse.

IMEC already has a long track record in system IP reuse by applying object-oriented programming techniques for system design.

STARC has organised the high-level design group, which has a target of developing next generation EDA technology by 2005.

This technology will be based on virtual cores that are reusable in a high-level design environment.

The initial duration of the collaboration is 2 years and is regarded as the start of a long-term partnership.

During the first phase, STARC will explore IMEC's OCAPI design methodology for implementation in its VCDS (virtual core based design system) design environment.

OCAPI is a design methodology to develop platform-independent system models in C++.

It allows high-level modelling and offers a path of gradual refinements towards implementation.

Performance exploration throughout the design flow allows easy and fast exploration of the hardware/software partitioning.

In the second phase, IMEC and STARC will collaborate on the development of novel SoC design technologies on an equal partnership basis.

"This agreement is an important step for IMEC to expand its network of affiliate companies in the area of design methodologies into Japan", said Prof Gilbert Declerck, President and CEO of IMEC.

"The development of revolutionary design methodologies that can cope with the huge complexity of future systems, requires collaboration between industry, research centres and academics all over the world".

"For SoC design technology, globalisation of design methodology is an indispensable item and the technical barriers to develop future design methodologies are becoming higher, requiring global cooperation", said Dr Toyoki Takemoto, Executive Vice President and COO of STARC.

"This agreement is also an important step for STARC, in order to expand SoC design tools, VCDS, worldwide".

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