Foundry startup Grace Semi of China strikes deal with Avant!

Foundry startup Grace Semi of China strikes deal with Avant!
FREMONT, Calif. -- Avant! Corp. and silicon foundry startup Grace Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. Ltd. (GSMC) of Shanghai here today announced a deal under which Avant! will make available its 0.25- to 0.13-micron chip libraries for GSMC.

Under the terms, Avant! will provide its Libra-Visa (timing-specific) and Libra-Passport (multi-foundry access) digital design libraries for GSMC. The libraries will be compatible with Avant!'s Milkyway-based line of EDA tools for system-on-a-chip (SoC) designs.

"Avant!'s commitment to support its customers' needs and Avant!'s expertise in building high-quality library products are the exact qualities we seek in our strategic partners," said Nasa Tsai, president and chief operation officer (COO) of GSMC.

Based in Shanghai, GSMC is a foundry startup that is currently building its initial fab, an 8-inch, 0.25- and below micron plant. The fab is expected to be completed by the end of 2002 (see Sept. 15, 2000 story ). GSMC reportedly obtained its chip-manufacturing technology from Japan's Oki Electric Industry Co. Ltd. (see Sept. 21, 2000 story ).