Synopsys and GlobalFoundries Establish Pilot Program to Bring Chip Design and Manufacturing to University Classrooms

Strategic Collaboration to Deliver Practical Chip Design Experience to Prepare the Next Generation of Engineering Talent

Key Highlights 

• Launching a pilot 'chip design to tapeout' flow curriculum, enabling academic institutions with industry-aligned coursework.
• Pilot testing underway at over 40 select worldwide universities with intent to scale.
• Combination of access to Synopsys' EDA solutions and GlobalFoundries' technology solutions to provide students valuable, real-world experience.

SUNNYVALE, Calif. and MALTA, N.Y., Sept. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Synopsys, Inc. (NASDAQ:SNPS) and GlobalFoundries (NASDAQ:GFS) (GF) announced today a new collaboration to launch an educational 'chip design to tapeout' program for universities worldwide. Aligned with both GFLabs' and Synopsys Academic & Research Alliances' (SARA) missions to advance semiconductor innovation through R&D and academic collaboration, this pilot initiative gives researchers, professors and students hands-on access to real-world chip design and manufacturing. By dramatically lowering the cost barrier to custom silicon, the program enables academic institutions to turn their design concepts into working silicon, expanding opportunities for education, research and workforce development.

Forty universities worldwide are participating in the sponsored open-source 180MCU pilot launching this fall. Synopsys will provide comprehensive support including professional-grade electronic design automation (EDA) tools, training and design collateral leveraging the Synopsys Cloud design platform. Once designs are finalized, GF will manufacture the chips through its GlobalShuttle Multi-Project Wafer Program, which aggregates designs from multiple institutions onto a single wafer for fabrication.

"Partnering with GlobalFoundries to bring a full 'chip design to tapeout' course to universities is a game changer," said Dr. Patrick Haspel, executive director of SARA at Synopsys. "This collaboration will empower students with practical, hands-on experience using advanced tools and technologies – skills that are critical to drive innovation in the semiconductor industry. Together, we're not just teaching design – we're building the next generation of engineers who will shape the future of silicon."

As Synopsys and GF seek to evolve this workforce development initiative further, the next phase of the tapeout is focused on bringing these technologies directly into classrooms and embedding hands-on design and testing into academic course curriculum. With the goal of having students collaborate in a design class, Synopsys will provide training to professors on how to lead this course. Following a shuttle run, the second course will dive into classroom testing with chips returned for the next semester.

"This program reflects our deep commitment to advancing semiconductor innovation and cultivating the next generation of talent," said Bika Carter, director of external R&D at GF. "By giving students and researchers the opportunity to bring their designs from concept to silicon, we're enriching chip design education and helping shape the future of our industry. We're proud to partner with Synopsys to empower the talented minds driving tomorrow's breakthroughs."

This design enablement collaboration is supported by Synopsys' SARA program, which provides software, cloud environments, training and curriculum to equip students with latest technology and learning materials. The new Synopsys-GF collaboration exemplifies the SARA program's commitment to partner on semiconductor workforce development initiatives and nurture talent pipelines worldwide. Along with providing participating universities with essential tools and cloud environment access, the SARA program will also offer comprehensive course content and training.

The tapeout education pilot is just one aspect of GF's University Partnership Program, which serves to close the prototyping gap in academia and expand access to new technologies to support technological innovation in the semiconductor industry. In its work with more than 80 universities, 110 professors and 600 students, the program selects projects aligned with GF's R&D roadmap priorities to support research breakthroughs in areas including radio frequency, radar, quantum computing, silicon photonics, sensors and more.

The combination of Synopsys and GlobalFoundries brings together industry-leading EDA design tools and advanced manufacturing, empowering academic institutions to offer students an integrated, real-world journey through the semiconductor process.

Resources

• Learn more about the Synopsys Academic & Research Alliances (SARA) program.
• Learn more about GF's University Network.

About Synopsys

Synopsys, Inc. (NASDAQ:SNPS) is the leader in engineering solutions from silicon to systems, enabling customers to rapidly innovate AI-powered products. We deliver industry-leading silicon design, IP, simulation and analysis solutions, and design services. We partner closely with our customers across a wide range of industries to maximize their R&D capability and productivity, powering innovation today that ignites the ingenuity of tomorrow. Learn more at www.synopsys.com.

© 2025 Synopsys, Inc. All rights reserved. Synopsys, Ansys, the Synopsys and Ansys logos, and other Synopsys trademarks are available at https://www.synopsys.com/company/legal/trademarks-brands.html. Other company or product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

About GF

GlobalFoundries (GF) is a leading manufacturer of essential semiconductors the world relies on to live, work and connect. We innovate and partner with customers to deliver more power-efficient, high-performance products for automotive, smart mobile devices, internet of things, communications infrastructure and other high-growth markets. With our global manufacturing footprint spanning the U.S., Europe, and Asia, GF is a trusted and reliable source for customers around the world. Every day, our talented and diverse team delivers results with an unyielding focus on security, longevity and sustainability. For more information, visit www.gf.com.

©GlobalFoundries Inc., GF, GlobalFoundries, the GF logos and other GF marks are trademarks of GlobalFoundries Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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SOURCE Synopsys, Inc. and GlobalFoundries