Silvaco Europe, a leading provider of computer aided design (TCAD) and electronic design automation (EDA) software, and its partners have been awarded a €4.9 million project to develop advanced software modelling methods. This will lead to improved design efficiency of the complex semiconductor components needed in critical applications. Use of high levels of integration in heterogeneous system-in-package (SiP) circuit designs results in smaller, smarter and more energy efficient products for aerospace among other industries. The latest project, named PARSIMO (PARtitioning and MOdelling of SiP), will last three years and has been sponsored by ENIAC JU, the public-private partnership that brings together the European Commission with researchers in the nanotechnology sector. PARSIMO will investigate modelling methods to improve the predictive accuracy for SiP design, while reducing simulation time to optimise cost and performance using new partitioning methods. By cutting manufacturing costs, SiP solutions will be attainable for SMEs. “The main goal of PARSIMO is to organise tools and methodologies to improve design efficiency for complex components needed in critical applications”, said Dr Ahmed Nejim of Silvaco Europe. “The multi-disciplinary approach brings together a highly specialised team capable of significant strides in this important area.” www.silvaco.com