SMC chip a first in region

Dubai Circuit Design (DCD), the region's first design centre for physical implementation of advanced integrated circuits and a full unit of Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), yesterday said it has completed the region's first design of an advanced integrated circuit. The SMC chip was designed using Synopsys' EDA tools and Pilot Design Environment.

The circuit was designed using 65 nanometer manufacturing process technology from TSMC, the world's largest semiconductor foundry. The test chip is designed for data security applications and contains around 22 million transistors. This encryption/decryption chip was implemented using special low-power design techniques to minimise power consumption, DCD said.

Dr Jihad Kiwan, Managing Director of DCD, said: "DCD aims to attract talents in IC design and semiconductor industry to Dubai. Experienced and talented engineers have been recruited from different parts of the world to create a culturally-diversified environment that is rich in experience and innovation."

He said: "The DCD team has set the pace to include Dubai on the world map of the circuit design industry."

"We consider DCD's chip design a major achievement for them and the region's technology industry," said Glenn Dukes, Vice-President of Professional Services at Synopsys.

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