EETC ICD CN04

IC Design House Survey 2004:China: 

IC Design House Survey 2004: China Yorbe Zhang Editor EE Times-China

Agenda: 

Agenda Methodology Respondent profile Business operations Design process Regional comparisons

Methodology: 

Methodology

Methodology: 

Methodology In March 2004, EE Times-China conducted an online and phone survey among a universe of 400 companies in mainland China 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 175 surveys were completed, resulting in a sample of 44%.

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 & services…

…they employ an average 217 personnel...: 

…they employ an average 217 personnel...

…including an average 57 IC design engineers: 

…including an average 57 IC design engineers

On average, they expect to achieve revenues of US$4.15 million in 2003...: 

On average, they expect to achieve revenues of US$4.15 million in 2003...

…and US$5.1 million in 2004: 

…and US$5.1 million in 2004

73% employ foundry services…: 

73% employ foundry services…

…53% employ local foundries: 

…53% 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

72% employ packaging services…: 

72% employ packaging services…

…65% of packaging facilities employed are based in Mainland China: 

…65% of packaging facilities employed are based in Mainland China *Percentages based on IC design houses who use packaging services

63% market own-brand ICs…: 

63% market own-brand ICs…

…of which, 74% sell them via distributors: 

…of which, 74% 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 & peripherals...

…consumer electronics...: 

…consumer electronics...

…telecommunications...: 

…telecommunications...

…and other key applications: 

…and other key applications

Respondent companies undertake an average 8 design projects annually…: 

Respondent companies undertake an average 8 design projects annually…

…69% utilize 0.25µm or smaller process technology for digital design…: 

…69% utilize 0.25µm or smaller process technology for digital design… N = 157

…51% utilize 0.25µm or smaller process technology for analog design…: 

…51% utilize 0.25µm or smaller process technology for analog design… N = 138

…and 57% utilize 0.25µm or smaller process technology for mixed-signal design: 

…and 57% utilize 0.25µm or smaller process technology for mixed-signal design N = 130

Respondent companies’ ASIC design by gate count…: 

Respondent companies’ ASIC design by gate count… N = 145

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

…and PLD-/FPGA-based design by gate count N = 131

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 China respondents using both distributors and direct sales: 

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

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

Additional challenges China IC design houses face during the design process