March 6, 2012 -- Cadence Design Systems, Inc. has launched a business incubation program for Australian IC start-ups designed to enhance the region's entrepreneurial environment. By providing industry-leading EDA solutions, this program will help remove some of the barriers to entry that new IC design companies face in the marketplace. Since many Australian design firms focus on mixed-signal design, the IC program for start-ups aligns with Cadence technology strengths, while encouraging and supporting the expansion of the IC-design and semiconductor industry in Australia.

"Being part of the program has enabled us to focus on designing our chip at a low burn rate, which is critical for a start-up," said Pat Kelly, CEO of Nitero, a fabless semiconductor company that is working on next-generation 60-GHz WI-Fi solutions for portable platforms. "Accessing leading-edge Cadence EDA technology and solutions has provided us with a unique advantage in the marketplace."

The Cadence IC-design program offers small and medium enterprises access to the Cadence suites of analog, custom, digital and PCB/ package/ board design software, as well as Internet training. The program is available through NICTA, Australia's Information and Communications Technology Research Centre of Excellence.

"This program, which supports the growth of small and medium businesses through technology and business development, is an excellent example of industry, government and academic cooperation," said Paul Hoff, Director pf Technology Transfer, NICTA.

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