SMIC, Virage Logic extend partnership to 40nm LL process technology

FREMONT, USA & SHANGHAI, CHINA: Virage Logic Corp. and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC), the leading foundry in China, announced the extension of their longstanding partnership to the 40-nanometer (nm) low-leakage (LL) process technology.

Building on the successful partnership that was initially established on the 130nm process technology, Virage Logic and SMIC have collaborated to provide mutual customers with highly differentiated IP on a broad range of SMIC’s process technologies including 90nm and 65nm.

Under the terms of the new agreement, System-on-Chip (SoC) designers will have access to Virage Logic’s SiWare Memory compilers, SiWare Logic libraries, SiPro MIPI and Intelli DDR IP on SMIC’s advanced 40nm LL process.

In addition, one key provision of this new agreement provides SMIC access to Virage Logic’s advanced STAR Memory System and STAR Yield Accelerator tools to accelerate the development, testing and yield enhancement of SMIC’s 40nm LL memory related technology.

“As the premier foundry in China, our expanded partnership with Virage Logic will enable SMIC to offer the industry leading semiconductor IP on our 40nm LL process to meet the needs of not only the Chinese system-on-chip (SoC) developers but the global semiconductor market,” said Chris Chi, Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer of SMIC.

“SMIC is taking aggressive steps to strengthen our technology offering to support our customers. Currently we have a number of customers with projects leveraging SMIC’s 65nm LL node. The strategic IP agreement with Virage Logic will enable us to offer these customers an easy migration path to our 40nm LL process. As SMIC’s business continues to expand, we look forward to continuing our synergistic relationship with Virage Logic to meet the increasing market demand.”

“We originally established our partnership with SMIC on the 130nm process technology and are pleased to expand the partnership to the 40nm LL process. With a comprehensive offering of Virage Logic’s industry leading IP, customers will be able to select SMIC as their primary source for their manufacturing requirements,” said Brani Buric, executive vice president of marketing and sales for Virage Logic.

“This joint agreement is a continuation of Virage Logic's strategy to expand its business through industry leading foundries and highlights SMIC's commitment to provide a complete IP solution for its customers.”