Inside a Multi-$Billion IP Engine Driving IC and EDA Innovations

Inside a Multi-$Billion IP Engine Driving IC and EDA Innovations

Author: All About Circuits September 22, 2026 Duration: 55:39

The semiconductor landscape is changing faster than ever. Chips now power everything from AI to advanced automotive systems. At the heart of this rapid revolution is semiconductor intellectual property (IP).

In this episode, Daniel Bogdanoff sits down with John Koeter of Synopsys. They explore how pre-verified silicon blocks accelerate chip design. They also discuss the massive shift toward multi-die systems and the future role of AI in engineering.

 

Accelerating Chip Design with Pre-Verified IP and Multi-Die Architectures

As Moore's law slows down, chip designers face extreme physical challenges. Designing a complex system-on-chip (SoC) from scratch is no longer viable. Companies rely on proven IP blocks to speed up time-to-market and ensure silicon success.

Today, the industry is transitioning to multi-die systems. Instead of one massive chip, designers stack multiple specialized chiplets in advanced packages. This transition introduces complex thermal and power challenges that require highly accurate modeling.

  • System on a Chip (SoC): An integrated circuit that combines all necessary electronic circuits and parts on a single chip.

  • Multi-Die Systems (Chiplets): An architecture where multiple specialized dies are combined in a single package to maximize performance.

  • Model to Hardware Correlation (MHC): The practice of ensuring pre-silicon simulation models accurately predict real-world post-silicon behaviors.

Managing thermal distribution is the biggest hurdle in 3D IC design. Stacking chips creates intense hotspots. These hotspots can crack or delaminate packages if unmanaged. Engineers must use advanced simulation tools to model these thermal characteristics early in the design cycle.


In the world of electronics, the real story is often found in the people who design, innovate, and push the boundaries of what's possible. Moore's Lobby: Where engineers talk all about circuits is a monthly podcast that goes beyond datasheets and schematics to explore the human element driving technological progress. Host Daniel Bogdanoff sits down with a diverse range of guests-from hands-on engineers and visionary technologists to the executives steering major organizations-for conversations that are as much about personal journey as technical achievement. Each episode delves into the practical engineering and the broader industry trends shaping our future, but always through the lens of the individual's experience. You'll hear firsthand accounts of breakthrough moments, the challenges of bringing complex ideas to life, and the philosophies that guide leaders in this demanding field. This podcast from All About Circuits connects a global community of professionals who share a deep curiosity for how things work and who makes them work. It’s a space for nuanced discussion that aims to inform, inspire, and provide genuine insight into the circuit-driven world we inhabit. The dialogue here is for those who appreciate the substance behind the innovation, offering a blend of technical depth and narrative that you can naturally integrate into your own perspective.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Moore's Lobby: Where engineers talk all about circuits
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