[Service Upgrade Announcement]
Advanced Chip Design Services at the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute, National Institutes of Applied Research (NIAR) Move Fully to the Cloud, Expanding Support for Cutting-Edge Academic Research!


We sincerely thank the academic community for your continued support of the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute (TSRI), National Institutes of Applied Research (NIAR).
In response to the rapid advancement of semiconductor technologies and the growing demand for advanced IC design resources in academia, TSRI is pleased to announce that the Advanced Chip Laboratory (Security Lab) has successfully completed its mission. Effective immediately, all related services will be upgraded and transitioned to the EDA Cloud 2.0 platform.
This transition does not represent a reduction in services. Rather, it marks a significant expansion in both service accessibility and computing capacity. By removing geographical and physical constraints, TSRI aims to provide researchers and faculty members with more convenient access to advanced semiconductor design environments.

I. From "Physical Constraints" to "Cloud Infinity": Why Are We Upgrading Our Services?

Previously, due to strict information security requirements and computing resource management policies associated with advanced semiconductor processes, researchers were required to access design environments through TSRI's Advanced Chip Laboratories (Security Labs) located in Taipei, Hsinchu, and Tainan. While effective, this model required users to travel to designated facilities and limited access to laboratory operating hours, entry controls, and on-site data management restrictions.

Today, thanks to the continued development of TSMC's University FinFET Program and the maturity of TSRI's cloud infrastructure, advanced process design resources can now be delivered through a more flexible and scalable platform:

Greater Computing Resources and Flexible Access: EDA Cloud 2.0 fully supports advanced process technologies, including 7nm and 16nm design environments. With an EDA Cloud 2.0 account, authorized users can access the platform anytime and from anywhere, benefiting from enhanced simulation and computing resources without being constrained by laboratory operating hours.

Greater Research Autonomy Through Campus Deployment: Through the TSMC University FinFET Program, authorized professors can deploy 7nm and 16nm design environments directly at their institutions and obtain approved process design kits (PDKs), enabling greater research flexibility and significantly improving laboratory productivity.

Removing Geographic Barriers and Expanding Participation: By eliminating the need to travel to physical facilities in Taipei, Hsinchu, or Tainan, EDA Cloud 2.0 enables research teams across Taiwan to access state-of-the-art semiconductor design resources through the cloud. This initiative supports TSRI's long-term goal of enabling broader participation in advanced semiconductor process research and development.

II. Next Steps: How to Seamlessly Transition to the Advanced Design Environment?

1. Target Applicants: Professors with authorization for advanced processes and their designated researchers.
2. Application Link: EDA Cloud 2.0 Account Application: https://www.tsri.org.tw/tw/commonPage.jsp?kindId=D0013
3. Technical Support: TSRI will continue to offer practical training courses, including the "TN16 FFC Process Full Custom IC Design Flow," as well as comprehensive online technical support services to help users quickly become familiar with the cloud-based design workflow.

III. Looking Ahead