IP Development in Japan

As semiconductor IP is growing bigger in size and more complex in providing complete solution for a particular functionality in an SoC, regions from across the world are joining to provide various types of services in the overall value-chain of IP development, verification, and its integration into SoCs.

Jedat Japan EDA Technologies is a world reputed company in the semiconductor community that provides innovative tools, technologies and services for semiconductor design solutions and its adjacent areas such as MEMS and flat-panel displays. Jedat has a large presence in Japan as well as international regions around the world through several of its partner networks, alliances and OEMs in the semiconductor domain including EDA tools, design solutions, foundries, and standards organizations.

Recently Jedat opened distributorship for Fractal’s tools in Japan region. Fractal Technologies’ Crossfire is a well known tool for quick and automated IP qualification to make sure the IP is ready for integration into an SoC. After learning about this business development between Jedat and Fractal, related to semiconductor IP in Japan, I was curious to know how IP development activities are taking place in the Japan region.

It was a great opportunity talking to Jedat executives and knowing about their perspectives on IP development activities and IP/SoC market in Japan. I talked to Mr. Kazuyuki Kawauchi san, CEO and Mr. Kenichi Tanaka san, Sales Operations Head at Jedat. Here are the highlights of our conversation –

Q: According to EDA Consortium’s quarterly reports this year, Japan region’s growth in EDA & IP revenue is almost flat to slightly negative compared to 2014 whereas Americas and Asia Pacific are showing double digit growth. How do you see the future IP market in Japan?

A: WSTS（WORLD SEMICONDUCTOR TRADE STATISTICS）announced that Japanese semiconductor market growth rate in 2015 are 2.9% in Yen base whereas -10.3% in Dollar base. WSTS also forecasts growth rate of +1.8% in 2016 and +2.0% in 2017 in Yen base. This means a gradual increase in EDA investment by Japanese semiconductor companies for next few years.

In general, as a result of structural reforms over the years in many semiconductor companies, a small number of design engineers are facing a situation where the requests from customer must be addressed within a short time span. The requests can vary in a wide range from mass production to high-complexity low-volume production. Such a change in design environment in Japanese industry is pushing for sourcing of readymade IP from internal as well as external sources. Outsourcing of design components has become important.

Q: What kind of IP development, say processor, AMS, digital, memory, or interfaces is happening in Japan and for which market segments? How about IP development in MEMS and O-S-D (Optoelectronics, Sensors, Discretes) domain there?

A: Leading semiconductor companies in Japan, which are also IDMs, must be prepared with their proprietary IPs. The fabless SoC companies need to utilize global FABs with supported IPs. With this point of view, the IP divisions in IDMs cover various areas from digital to analog including standard IPs like interfaces. The MEMS and O-S-D heavily depend on process technologies. Japan semiconductor companies, with their own processes, have been striving for differentiation in such devices. Although these devices are usually discreet devices, these will be considered for further innovation to spread as standard IP in the near future; breakthroughs in business as well as processes are needed in this case.

Q: How does Jedat fit into the overall value-chain from IP to SoC design and manufacturing of ICs?

A: Jedat provides following two solutions:
[LIST=1]