Open-Source Ecosystem for Semiconductor Design Development Programs in Japan
- Time
- 2026-08-09 13:30 ~ 14:00
- Speaker
- Jun-ichi OKAMURA
- Room
- TR515
- Co-write
Abstract
Since October 2025, we have been publicly releasing the Tokai Rika 1 µm CMOS technology as an open-source PDK via the OpenSUSI repository. In this talk, I will first present the latest status of the open-source PDK development, including the key technical issues that have emerged and our ongoing efforts to refine and improve the overall methodology. I will then introduce the “First Tapeout” proposal in 2026 as a talent identification and development program. This initiative represents Japan’s first attempt to provide hands-on experience covering the full RTL-to-GDSII-to-chip flow in collaboration with industrial partners. Finally, I will outline the OpenSUSI MPW shuttle program released for 2026, which aims to engage Japanese academia and further strengthen practical semiconductor design and fabrication experience.
Speaker
Jun-ichi OKAMURA
Jun-ichi OKAMURA began his career at Toshiba in 1986 as a DRAM memory designer and later worked at IBM in Burlington, Vermont, on alliance programs related to the first-generation DDR SDRAM. In 1999, he joined THine Electronics as a lead SerDes designer in the fabless semiconductor business. In 2006, he founded Trigence Semiconductor, which received its first investment from Intel Capital in 2012. Unfortunately, due to the impact of the U.S.–China trade war, Trigence was unable to secure Series D funding and was legally liquidated in May 2022. After being invited to the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) as a guest researcher, he joined AIST Solutions in June 2023, where he has been engaged in semiconductor ecosystem development and policy planning activities. In April 2024, he became the Representative Director of OpenSUSI (Open Source Utilized Silicon Initiatives), where he promotes semiconductor design talent development and the growth of Japan's open-source silicon ecosystem.