Synopsys, a world leader in semiconductor design software, today announced that Purdue University is the recipient of a Charles Babbage Grant. Purdue will receive 50 licenses of Synopsys electronic design automation (EDA) University Tools Package software, as well as Sun Ray client hardware and server software from Sun Microsystems, for their VLSI Design Laboratory. Purdue will use the Synopsys licenses for their graduate and undergraduate engineering programs in ASIC Design, as well as for leading-edge microelectronics and nanoscale research, in their new Birck Nanotechnology Center. The Birck Nanotechnology Center is considered among the best university facilities of its kind in the nation for nanotechnology research. The grant is named after British mathematician and inventor Charles Babbage, who designed and built mechanical computing machines on principles that anticipated the modern electronic computers of today over 150 years ago. A wide range of Synopsys tools in use at Purdue today provides students and researchers the opportunity to utilize industrial tools for ASIC synthesis, circuit simulation, nanometer device modeling, and fabrication process modeling in both academics and research. Synopsys tools serve as the foundation for an industry standard design flow in the ASIC Design Laboratory where students get real world experience building and testing their designs. In the Birck Nanotechnology Center, Synopsys provides device and process modeling tools for conducting nanoscale research and creating advanced devices. For VLSI and RF-MEMS research, a comprehensive set of EDA tools backed by Synopsys' support network provides a complete hardware design environment. This eliminates the difficult task of assembling a patchwork of open source and niche tools that often lack the necessary technology files and models for commercial processes. Finding access to robust design tools with the required peripheral support for advanced research and microelectronic design is a common issue facing universities today. Synopsys solves this challenge through programs like the Charles Babbage Grant which provides select universities with design software for modern electronic design flows and leading commercial IC fabrication processes. "Receiving the Charles Babbage Grant furthers the development and modernization goals for our VLSI Design and Engineering laboratories," said Mark C. Johnson, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University. "Access to leading-edge design software and compute hardware enables our engineering students to learn in the same environment as their industry counterparts, increasing the value of the student experience and research at Purdue University." "Synopsys selected Purdue University to receive this grant because of their leadership and commitment to leading-edge microelectronic design and nanotechnology research," said Rich Goldman, vice president, Strategic Market Development at Synopsys. "Through this grant, Synopsys helps prepare students and researchers to meet the challenges of nanoscale design and build careers in the microelectronic industry."