OpenPDK as a Strategic FOSS IC Design Enabler

W. Grabiński, K. Herman, S. Andreev, R. Scholz (IHP Frankfurt (Oder), Germany)

OpenPDK Initiative is gaining strong momentum in the semiconductor community, with Europe playing a leading role. The main goal is simple: make integrated-circuit (IC) design easier to access, easier to learn, and easier to manufacture. OpenPDKs and FOSS CAD/EDS tools play a central role in this transformation. They remove the traditional barriers of expensive software, closed documentation, and restrictive licenses. This paper presents a clear and practical overview of how OpenPDKs together with FOSS CAD/EDA workflows create new opportunities for education, research, and industry, using the IHP SG13G2 open ecosystem as a leading example.