Week In Review: Auto, Security, Pervasive Computing

Security
Microsoft and Synopsys are working together on a secure cloud-based chip development environment for United States Department of Defense’s Rapid Assured Microelectronics Prototypes (RAMP) program. “Through this integration on the RAMP program, Synopsys’ trusted design, verification and silicon IP solutions will be available in Microsoft Azure,” said Mujtaba Hamid, head of Silicon & Electronics Industry, Microsoft, in a press release. “This will allow designers to securely build state-of-the-art silicon devices in a confidential cloud environment.”

Automotive/Mobility
Siemens Digital Industries Software will be providing access to its Xcelerator portfolio of software and services for autonomous and connected vehicle development to Canada-based startup services company MaRS. Through MaRS, to the 1,400 Canadian science and technology companies will have access to the autonomous vehicle software platform.

Ford Motor Company announced that it is upping its investment in electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous vehicles (AVs), according to an earnings report press release. Ford will be investing $22 billion in EVs and $7 billion in AVs through 2025. Also Ford and Google will be working together closely — devoting staff from both companies to work on a single team – on innovations in the factory and in the cars. Google Cloud will be Ford’s cloud provider and Google and Android will be integrated into Ford’s cars. “We’re going to leverage the talent and assets of both companies to push the boundaries of Ford’s transformation, unlock personalized consumer experiences, and drive disruptive, data-driven opportunities,” wrote David McClelland, Ford’s vice president of Strategy and Partnerships, in a blog post. “This may include projects ranging from modernizing our plants through vision AI, developing new retail experiences when buying a vehicle, creating new ownership offers based on connected vehicle data, and more.”

Pervasive computing — IoT, edge, cloud, data center, and back
Xilinx is supplying its UltraScale+ technology to Fujitsu for use in O-RAN 5G radio units or O-RUs. Fujitsu O-RUs are being deployed in the first O-RAN-compliant 5G greenfield networks in the U.S., according to a press release.

Cadence is endowing the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing with $5M for a professorship fund that will make it possible for the college to establish a full professorship for faculty working in artificial intelligence, machine learning, or data analytics, according to a press release.

People, companies
Cadence’s Aparna Dey was elected to the Silicon Integration Initiative (Si2) board of directors. Dey is a senior product marketing group director at Cadence, responsible for the Cadence electronic design automation and intellectual property standards activities. Si2 is joint venture that works on standards for chip design tools.

Former Optimal+ executive Uzi Baruch has been appointed chief strategy officer (CSO) at proteanTecs, a chip health- and performance-monitoring company. Baruch, who was general manager of the Automotive and Electronics Business Unit at Optimal+, will work business and strategic initiatives has expertise “that will bring the data revolution to the electronics, datacenter and automotive industries,” he said in a press release. Optimal + was acquired by National Instruments in 2020.

National Instruments launched strategy and goals for advancing diversity, equity, and sustainability over the next ten years. Called Engineering Hope, the strategy includes a $3.4 million investment in STEM education initiatives that serve underrepresented or economically disadvantaged students, globally. Among other initiatives, NI also wants 16% of its suppliers to be small or diverse businesses and aims for Zero Waste in NI-owned buildings by 2030. 

Job, Event and Webinar Boards: Find industry jobs and upcoming conferences and webinars all in one place on Semiconductor Engineering. Knowledge Center: Boost your semiconductor industry knowledge. Videos: See the latest Semiconductor Engineering videos.