Chinese EDA firm offers free access amid US chip software restrictions

In response to recent US restrictions cutting off Chinese semiconductor firms from advanced chip design tools, Shanghai-based UniVista Industrial Software Group announced it will offer free trials and evaluations of its critical electronic design automation or EDA tools to domestic users. This move aims to alleviate mounting challenges facing China's chip industry.

Dubbed the cradle of integrated circuits, EDA software enables the design of billions of transistors on modern chips. It is essential for designing, verifying and testing integrated circuits, forming the backbone of modern chip creation.

The US Department of Commerce has recently asked leading American and European EDA software suppliers to halt sales to China without first obtaining an export license, intensifying barriers to China's semiconductor development.

UniVista said it is China's only domestic EDA provider capable of fully supporting the entire digital chip verification flow while supplying high-speed interconnect IP for advanced process nodes. Its portfolio spans digital EDA tools, system-level solutions, and high-end IP.

With over 200 clients—including most major Chinese high-end chip designers—UniVista emphasizes its proven expertise in supporting complex, large-scale digital chip projects. The company's tools have undergone rigorous refinement through real-world applications, backed by what it describes as a "highly capable" technical support team.

Founded in 2020, UniVista's investors include China Internet Investment Fund and the China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund, also known as the Big Fund.