EDA tools at center of U.S.-China semiconductor tensions: Restrictions met with free trials

The U.S. Department of Commerce has intensified restrictions on Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools, critical software for semiconductor design, by requiring export licenses for sales to China. Siemens EDA announced it may suspend services to mainland China following a directive from the Bureau of Industry and Security to decouple from Chinese customers, with some technical websites already blocked. Synopsys and Cadence, the other leading EDA vendors, are awaiting further U.S. policy guidance but may also impose restrictions. These measures could disrupt Chinese chipmakers’ design processes, slowing research and development and impacting the global semiconductor supply chain.

In response, Shanghai UniVista Industrial Software Group, a Chinese EDA provider, announced on June 5, 2025, that it will offer free trials of its EDA tools to domestic users. UniVista’s portfolio includes digital verification tools like UniVista Simulator and Debugger, design-for-test platforms like UniVista Tespert, and system-level design software like UniVista Archer for PCB design. Founded in 2020, UniVista serves over 200 clients, including major Chinese chip designers, and has raised nearly RMB 4 billion in funding. This move aims to bolster China’s semiconductor industry amid U.S. restrictions, leveraging tools refined through real-world projects and supported by a ...