The Silicon Integration Initiative (Si2) got its start in 1988 — under the name CAD Framework Initiative (CFI).
CFI’s mission was to provide industry-accepted standards and technology that enable interoperability of electronic design automation (EDA) applications and data for end-users and suppliers worldwide. CFI brought together over forty companies jointly involved in defining industry standards in the areas of Design Methodology Management, Architecture, Design, Data Management, System Environments, Design Representation, Intertool Communication, and User Interface.
At the Design Automation Conference (DAC) in 1997, CFI changed its name to Silicon Integration Initiative (Si2). Si2 is focused on the development and adoption of standards to improve the way integrated circuits are designed and manufactured.
In 2013, Si2 consumed the Compact Model Council (CMC). Until that time, CMC had been part of TechAmerica, but they decided to get out of the standards business. The standardization of SPICE models is one of their major functions and is of vital importance for the semiconductor industry.
Today, Si2 has five major coalitions — DFM Coalition, Low-Power Coalition, Open PDK Coalition, OpenAccess Coalition, and now the Compact Model Coalition. Additionally, two technical advisory boards (TABs) are looking towards the future — the 3D TAB and the Silicon Photonics TAB.
