Russian developers have started collaborating with Chinese computer-aided design (CAD) system developers to create joint solutions. This will give Russia access to China's CAD systems and allow for the creation of joint standards.
As CNews found out, Russia has started cooperation with Chinese developers of computer-aided design (CAD) systems in order to integrate tools into design routes. This was discussed by representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) at the Electronic Engineering 2025 conference.
Information about the cooperation is presented on one of the slides of the presentation of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and ISTC. It also follows that three CAD development projects have been launched in the country, as well as the complexes of design tools for domestic factories have been adapted.
CAD systems are used for designing processors, printed circuit boards, and are also used in construction, chemical industry, metallurgy, etc. Currently, Russian design centers mainly use American Synopsys and Cadence software. They joined the anti-Russian sanctions, stopped sales and technical support.
"We have started exploring possible cooperation with Chinese computer-aided design (CAD) system developers in order to create more flexible and independent microelectronics design routes. It's not just about implementing individual solutions, but also about building a sustainable alternative to the Western monopoly on critical IT tools," an ISTC representative told CNews.
According to him, ISTC MIET, together with the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia, analyzes the IT landscape of Chinese CAD systems, holds first meetings with companies and studies their backlog.
We are looking for ways to integrate Russian solutions into design routes, including in the field of physical verification, in order to ensure the launch of Russian developments in Chinese factories.
"This is especially important in an environment where both countries are interested in sovereign technology chains," the ISTC representative emphasized.
The vector of cooperation includes both the potential use of Chinese CAD systems in Russian routes and the interest of Chinese partners in our niche tools, in particular in the field of SAE (engineering analysis systems). There are now visible points of contact where the exchange of modules, technologies and competencies can be useful.
"It is important to understand that the path to mature CAD takes decades — that's how long American companies have been moving towards their position. We don't have that kind of time, so we're building a flexible route configuration model that can combine solutions from different technology partners. This will make it possible to quickly reach a competitive level and ensure the sustainability of the development and production of microelectronics. This area is being developed within the framework of a specialized Roadmap, which was developed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia jointly with ISTC MIET, NGO CIS and other industry participants," said the ISTC representative.
"Building integration is the use of identical or compatible CAD systems at all stages of system development so that projects can be exchanged and unified standards can be created," Alexey Boyko, author of the RUSmicro Telegram channel, explained to CNews. "Cooperation may involve joining forces in CAD development, gaining access to Chinese CAD systems, localizing them at an early stage, and switching to a hybrid model where partly Chinese and partly Russian products will be used in microelectronics development."
In his opinion, this can accelerate the development of CAD in Russia, which will reduce dependence on American CAD systems, which are currently used everywhere by Russian design centers.
According to Mikhail Bocharov, Deputy General Director for Research at SiSoft Development JSC, domestic developers of BIM solutions (Building Information Modeling) can offer their own developments that will improve existing solutions or jointly develop new approaches to data management— both horizontally and vertically.
"Most likely, we are talking about developing compatible formats of Russian and Chinese software, integrating domestic solutions with Chinese counterparts," Irina Bibik, head of the SimbirSoft QA department, told CNews. —And probably in the future, the launch of new modules and joint CAD systems."
In turn, experience exchange programs will improve the skills of experts, she noted. "The new cooperation is another step towards the development of domestic solutions, through synergy with advanced Chinese EDA tools. According to forecasts, the acceleration of design in microelectronics is expected. The use of Chinese development methods will stimulate innovations in CAD, increase their competitiveness in the Russian and global markets," concluded Bibik.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade presented the results of work on CAD creation at the Electronic Engineering 2025 conference.
By the end of 2021-2024, 58 modules have already been launched. 49 more are planned to be launched in 2025-2026. And the main part will fall on 2027-2028. 109 CAD modules are planned to be launched there. A total of 216 modules are planned to be created by 2027-2028.
The architecture of the basic design routes has already been formed, and three R&D projects have been set up to create them. Among them are the ROC "Characterization-2": an advanced system for characterization of digital libraries to support technologies of 90-28 nm (NM-Tech is engaged in), the ROC "CAD SvK-T": an advanced design system for modern types of buildings and three-dimensional assemblies (MIPT is engaged in).
Russia has approved a roadmap for "CAD microelectronics" until 2030, Kommersant wrote. The total cost of it should amount to 54.6 billion rubles and the expected revenue should reach 7.2 billion rubles, of which 3.6 billion rubles. from programs for the development of microcircuits.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has also included software for designing 16 nm processors in the roadmap for the development of Russian CAD systems until 2030. Although processors with a topology of 90 nm and higher are now being mass-produced in Russia.
In May 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Trade ordered an independent examination of the progress of work on the creation of Russian CAD systems for microelectronics. The Ministry has allocated 19 million rubles for this purpose.
In June 2024, Vedomosti reported that the share of Russian CAD in purchases in monetary terms reached an impressive 90%, but on the other hand, companies in Russia hardly use this software.
In Russia, the development in the field of CAD microelectronics and electronics is NPO KIS, which has developed a roadmap, there are Gamma-Tech, Integrated Solutions, etc., mentioned Boyko.
ISTC MIET JSC is also engaged in the development of digital VLSI CAD in cooperation with the Lomonosov Moscow State University Scientific Research Institute, NM-Tech, ISP RAS, MIPT, NIU MIET, Eremex, Alfachip, NPK Shopping Center.
