The edacentrum e.V. is an independent, non-profit association dedicated to the promotion of research and development in the area of electronic design automation (EDA). The primary role of edacentrum is to initiate, evaluate and supervise industry-driven EDA R&D projects. Further, by encouraging cluster research projects and EDA networks, it brings together and reinforces the EDA expertise of multiple universities and research institutes. The edacentrum actively engages in public relations in order to raise awareness among higher management levels, the public, and the political arena, about the central importance of design automation in addressing the complex challenges of developing modern microelectronics and systems.
As an association, the edacentrum e. V. is open to all persons and legal entities according to the articles [1] of the association (available only in German). Members pay a membership fee, entitling them to use the basic services [2]of the association. Neither the membership fees nor other fees are used to generate profit.
In its first years until 2011 the edacentrum was funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). As the funding decreased linearly between 2006 and 2011, the association founded a company (edacentrum GmbH [3]) to offer a range of services [4] to the EDA industry. This for-profit activity financially assures the permanent existence of the association.
Tasks of the association
The association helps to identify and define research areas for future programs on both national and international levels. It assists in the preparation and organization of national and international EDA-R&D projects [5] that are requesting public funding and uses its EDA expertise to assist the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF).
In the preparation phase of a project proposal, the edacentrum can use its specific know-how to assist the project consortium. It makes useful suggestions regarding the formal presentation of a project, or the project’s acceptability. With its extensive experience, the edacentrum is able to draft project outlines and project descriptions of the quality necessary to win funding. The edacentrum is also able to review project applications, marking those that fulfill its quality criteria with the “edacentrum seal of quality”.
In the project execution phase, the edacentrum can take on some of the project partner’s organizational and coordination tasks, enabling the partner to concentrate on design and development. Furthermore the edacentrum ensures the project’s quality by supporting project reviews and it organises the edaWorkshop in order to allow a public-oriented presentation of project results. Upon request, the edacentrum organizes other (project) workshops; hosts project home-pages; manages collaboration between different projects, etc. However, the association does not pursue its own research and design projects.
In addition to assisting industry-driven research and development (R&D) projects the edacentrum initiates EDA cluster research projects. These research projects are undertaken by universities and other research institutes only to build further expertise in EDA and to examine fields, that can become applicable for industry within the next 5-10 years.
