edaForum05 - Preface

EDA is facing a complicated situation these days. Shorter product life cycles, higher flexibility and new technological challenges require more and better EDA tools. Additionally, the new application areas towards ubiquitous computing and ambient intelligence demand for a new kind of EDA. On the other hand investment in EDA has a very slow growth, which is surprising, since it was proven recently that design capabilities of enterprises are a decisive factor for a leading position in competitiveness and sustainable profit.

Therefore, it is the top priority of edaForum05 – and this is the fourth in a sequence of very successful events – to discuss and to find solutions for this contradiction. edaForum always brings together the EDA decision makers with some of the best speakers from all over the world. Like in the past years, edaForum is unique in combining technical and business EDA aspects in one single event. This year’s technical highlights will include ultra low power design for ubiquitous computing and ambient intelligence as well as robust and predictable design under uncertain conditions in nanoscale technology. In the more business oriented sessions we will discuss questions like:

• How to measure ROI of EDA?
• What roles have chips in the value chain?
• Do fabs still pay off?
• Are fabs the only way to make money in the nanoelectronics era?
• Is it all about cost and risk management, reliability and yield or about new creative product ideas fast implemented in silicon directly from system level?
• Is a new application specific design solution more important than managing the chip production process or is it the other way around?

Last but not least I would like to draw your attention to the EDA Startup Workshop that will be associated within edaforum for the very first time and, of course, to the very special social event and remarkable tour offers.

On behalf of the edacentrum I cordially invite you to attend our edaForum05 in Hannover.