Agilent Donates $13M In EDA Software To Design Center

The new Agilent EDA Simulation Center will facilitate RF and microwave-system and circuit-design instruction and research for students. It will also serve as a catalyst for start-up companies involved in wireless communications design. The center is expected to be fully operational by year's end. It will focus on Agilent EEsof's Advanced Design System (ADS), the 3-D Electromagnetic Design System (EMDS) 3-D EM simulator and the AMDS simulator that incorporates antenna EM simulation technology recently acquired by Agilent. The center will also be the world's largest academic installation of Agilent's Golden Gate simulator in a parallel processor environment. Golden Gate offers the ability to simulate complex CMOS RFIC designs, including complete network parasitic elements, in production scale SOC implementations. Initial plans include a 60 parallel core configuration. "We realize that universities and start-up incubator programs play a crucial role in pushing the limits of EDA tools, and Agilent's EDA offering needs to be integrated and lead simulation technology in all areas," Jim McGillivary, vice president and general manager with Agilent's EEsof EDA division, said in a statement. The agreement demonstrates a significant expansion of the long-standing relationship between Georgia Tech and Agilent. This agreement is part of the newly-created Agilent EEsof EDA University Alliance program, which includes a tailored, three-year program to provide access to the complete line of Agilent EEsof EDA tools to start-up companies. Agilent also plans to offer customer training at the GEDC's Agilent EDA Simulation Center.