For almost 20 years the edacentrum has been organizing the edaForum for decision-makers on a regular basis. With its unique combination of economically and technically oriented lectures on the value of electronics, design and applications (EDA), the edaForum provides important information for securing the company's future. In addition to the technical challenges in the development of microelectronic systems and their applications, the invited contributions of high-ranking speakers focus on current topics of in particular economic and strategic importance.
The edaForum took place in Berlin, Regent Hotel, on November 5-6, 2019 and was dedicated to edaForum19: „The Innovation Twins: AI and EDA Enable Each Other“.
Here you get to the online programm [1].
edaForum19: Evening of November 5 and Morning of November 6 in Berlin
The edaForum19 started with an exclusive evening event on November 5 including a panel session entitled:
- Panel: "If (training) data is the oil for the engine AI, which drives intelligent digitization, how do we best use the existing oil?"
In the morning of November 6, two lecture sessions took place:
- Session 1: "EDA and AI: how the EDA industry and AI are mutually supportive"
- Session 2: "Microelectronics, EDA and AI: Status and Interaction of these Research Fields"
Speakers and panelists:
- Erich Biermann (Robert Bosch, D)
- Raik Brinkmann (OneSpin Solutions, D)
- Wolfgang Ecker (Infineon Technologies, D)
- Volkan Esen (Infineon Technologies, D)
- Berthold Hellenthal (AUDI, D)
- Werner John (System Integration Laboratory, D)
- Matthias Kästner (Microchip, D)
- Christian Lohner (Mentor/Siemens, D)
- Christian Mayr (TU Dresden, D)
- Stefan Mengel (BMBF, D)
- Frank Schirrmeister (Cadence, US)
- Herbert Taucher (Siemens Corporate Technology, A)
- Hendrik Wöhrle (FH Dortmund, D)
Further details on the programm can be found here [2]. In the following you can find detailled Information concerning the concept of the event.
edaForum19 Concept:
The edaForum19 was dedicated to two technologies, each of which is an outstanding innovation driver on its own and which brings both the economically most important industries and the environment of each individual citizen to a new level:
- AI (Artificial Intelligence) methods that can be used efficiently and effectively in a wide range of applications using the microelectronics solutions available today; and
- The design of applications of the latest semiconductor products and systems (EDA=Electronics, Design and Applications) using EDA (=Electronic Design Automation) methods.
Today, both technologies are mutually dependent on each other in order to develop their full potential:
- "EDA for AI": EDA implements the hardware and systems required for AI applications, including IP e.g. for accelerators.
- "AI for EDA": The innovative EDA methods of the future will use AI themselves.
At edaForum19 both aspects have been discussed in invited lectures and a panel discussion by top managers and AI experts. The EDA industry has presented its AI strategy, focusing on the use of AI in EDA tools and tools for the development of AI applications. The microelectronics industry and leading research institutions have discussed the current state of research, the targeted strategic innovations and the necessary R&D initiatives. Questions that have been discussed include:
- How will AI change the EDA industry?
- Where is AI superior to traditional EDA approaches and where not?
- What added value will AI bring to EDA?
- Will AI dominate the strategic development of EDA? What else is of strategic importance for EDA?
- Will AI-based EDA replace designers?
- Is there a market for dedicated AI chips?
- How do I put AI on the chip? Will approaches like Open Source and RISC-V processors be part of the solution?
edaForum Program Chair: Prof. Wolfgang Ecker (Infineon Technologies AG and member of the Enquete Commission "Artificial Intelligence - Social Responsibility and Economic, Social and Ecological Potentials" of the German Bundestag)
edaForum Board: Prof. Wolfgang Rosenstiel, Prof. Wolfgang Nebel, Jürgen Haase (Board edacentrum e.V.)
In order to efficiently enable the participants of edaForum19 to attend another very suitable event, edacentrum cooperated with the VDE and ZVEI associations, who organised the Microelectronics Sympisium nearby and directly after the edaForum19:
VDE/ZVEI-Mikroelektronik-Symposium
Directly after edaForum19 the 9th. Microelectronics Symposium [3] organized by VDE and ZVEI took place, also supporting the dialogue between politics and industry. The Microelectronics Symposium 2019 has been held under the motto "Microelectronics - the Brain of Artificial Intelligence" and ideally has complemented the edaForum19. Participants at edaForum19 could directly register also for the Microelectronics Symposium when registering for edaForum19.
More Information like program and pictures of past edaForen yo find here [4] and on the left below the menu "History".
