EETK ICD KR04

IC Design House Survey 2004:Korea: 

IC Design House Survey 2004: Korea Park Dongwook Managing Editor EE Times-Korea

Agenda: 

Agenda Methodology Respondent profile Business operations Design process Regional comparisons

Methodology: 

Methodology

Methodology: 

Methodology In March 2004, EE Times-Korea conducted an online and phone survey among a universe of 88 companies in South Korea involved in IC design. The objective of the research was to describe the current business operations of these companies and the current level of design complexity utilized. A total of 50 surveys were completed, resulting in a sample of 57%.

Respondent profile: 

Respondent profile

Response by job function: 

Response by job function

Business operations: 

Business operations

Respondent companies offer a variety of products & services…: 

Respondent companies offer a variety of products andamp; services…

…they employ an average 41 personnel...: 

…they employ an average 41 personnel...

…including an average 13 IC design engineers: 

…including an average 13 IC design engineers

On average, they expect to achieve revenues of US$3.48 million in 2003...: 

On average, they expect to achieve revenues of US$3.48 million in 2003...

…and US$4.85 million in 2004: 

…and US$4.85 million in 2004

62% employ foundry services…: 

62% employ foundry services…

…64% employ local foundries: 

…64% employ local foundries *Percentages based on IC design houses who use foundry services

The main difficulties faced when contracting foundries: 

The main difficulties faced when contracting foundries *Percentages based on IC design houses who use foundry services

54% employ packaging services…: 

54% employ packaging services…

…77% employ local packaging facilities: 

…77% employ local packaging facilities *Percentages based on IC design houses who use packaging services

58% market own-brand ICs…: 

58% market own-brand ICs…

…of which, 65% sell them via distributors: 

…of which, 65% sell them via distributors *Percentages based on IC design houses who sell own-brand ICs **See Appendix for an extended analysis

Respondents use wide-ranging channels to promote their products/services: 

Respondents use wide-ranging channels to promote their products/services

The design process: 

The design process

Respondent companies generate wide-ranging IC designs…: 

Respondent companies generate wide-ranging IC designs…

…develop a variety of analog/mixed-signal IC designs…: 

…develop a variety of analog/mixed-signal IC designs…

…as well as digital IC designs…: 

…as well as digital IC designs…

…for wide-ranging applicationsincluding computers & peripherals...: 

…for wide-ranging applications including computers andamp; peripherals...

…consumer electronics...: 

…consumer electronics...

…telecommunications...: 

…telecommunications...

…and other key applications: 

…and other key applications

Respondent companies undertake an average 6 design projects annually…: 

Respondent companies undertake an average 6 design projects annually…

…67% utilize 0.25µm or smaller process technology for digital design…: 

…67% utilize 0.25µm or smaller process technology for digital design… N = 42

…55% utilize 0.25µm or smaller process technology for analog design…: 

…55% utilize 0.25µm or smaller process technology for analog design… N = 9

…and 50% utilize 0.25µm or smaller process technology for mixed-signal design: 

…and 50% utilize 0.25µm or smaller process technology for mixed-signal design N = 8

Respondent companies’ ASIC design by gate count…: 

Respondent companies’ ASIC design by gate count… N = 26

…and PLD-/FPGA-based design by gate count: 

…and PLD-/FPGA-based design by gate count N = 24

Challenges faced during the design process: 

Challenges faced during the design process *See Appendix for additional design challenges

Regional comparisons:Business operations: 

Regional comparisons: Business operations

China and Korea IC design houses tend to offer more services than those in Taiwan: 

China and Korea IC design houses tend to offer more services than those in Taiwan

On average, Taiwan design houses expect to generate higher revenue in 2004: 

On average, Taiwan design houses expect to generate higher revenue in 2004

More Taiwan design houses employ foundries than those in China and Korea: 

More Taiwan design houses employ foundries than those in China and Korea

Local foundries are most preferred: 

Local foundries are most preferred

More Taiwan design houses employ packaging services: 

More Taiwan design houses employ packaging services

Local packaging facilities are most preferred: 

Local packaging facilities are most preferred

More Taiwan design houses market own-brand ICs: 

More Taiwan design houses market own-brand ICs

Regional comparisons:Design complexity: 

Regional comparisons: Design complexity

Comparison of process technologies employed in digital design: 

Comparison of process technologies employed in digital design

Comparison of process technologies employed in analog design: 

Comparison of process technologies employed in analog design

Comparison of process technologies employed in mixed-signal design: 

Comparison of process technologies employed in mixed-signal design

Comparison of ASIC design by gate count: 

Comparison of ASIC design by gate count

Comparison of PLD/FPGA-based design by gate count: 

Comparison of PLD/FPGA-based design by gate count

Appendix: 

Appendix

Extended analysis of Korea respondents using both direct sales and distributors: 

Extended analysis of Korea respondents using both direct sales and distributors *Percentages based on IC design houses who sell own-brand ICs

Additional challenges Korea IC design houses face during the design process: 

Additional challenges Korea IC design houses face during the design process