The increasing demand for semiconductors, fueled by AI, data centers, and digital transformation, has raised concerns about their environmental impact due to energy-intensive manufacturing and waste generation. Integrating sustainability into semiconductor design and manufacturing can reduce energy consumption, minimize waste, and conserve resources. Incorporating environmental impact into the power, performance, area, and cost (PPAC) model during early development is critical for sustainable progress. Efforts include adopting energy-efficient architectures, optimizing fabrication processes, and using recycled materials to lower carbon footprints.
Imec’s Sustainable Semiconductor Technologies and Systems (SSTS) program, led by the nanoelectronics research organization, collaborates with industry, government, academia, and associations to provide data and address environmental challenges in semiconductor manufacturing. Cadence has joined as the first electronic design automation (EDA) partner, enabling access to imec.netzero data through its design tools to support early-stage environmental considerations in the design process.
The partnership aims to shift life cycle analysis to the design phase, allowing designers to assess environmental impacts proactively and avoid delays from post-design changes. Lars-Åke Ragnarsson, SSTS program director at imec, stated that Cadence’s participation supports the integration of sustainability into semiconductor innovation. Cadence has committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, utilizing generative AI, digital twin technologies, strategic acquisitions, and tool solutions to address environmental challenges in the semiconductor industry.
