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With growing workforce development initiatives in the US. APAC, Europe, Latin America, and other regions, the Synopsys Academic & Research Alliances (SARA) program is doing its part to overcome the global semiconductor talent shortage. By working with universities, bringing technology to classrooms, and providing diverse academic offerings, the SARA program is empowering future industry leaders in electronic design.
Partnering with the academic world is a complex and multi-layered task that many in the industry may not have the knowledge and expertise to execute. While Synopsys has always prioritized workforce development and invested in these initiatives, there’s one individual whose vision, commitment, and efforts stand out and deserve recognition.
For his dedication to the electronic design automation (EDA) industry, Dr. Patrick Haspel was recently awarded the 2024 Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) Special Interest Group on Design Automation (SIGDA) Distinguished Service Award at the 61st Design Automation Conference (DAC). The award is given to individuals—primarily academics and rarely industry professionals—who have dedicated many years of their career in extraordinary services to promoting, leading, or creating ACM and SIGDA programs or events.
Yiran Chen, Chair of ACM and SIGDA, had much to say on Haspel’s impact:
“At ACM SIGDA, we are all amazed by Patrick's transformative impact on the EDA industry, particularly in how he encourages companies to appreciate the value universities can bring. Having known him for many years, I am consistently impressed by his talent for fostering these crucial connections. Patrick not only prioritizes the interests of academic researchers but also helps them gain industry exposure to advance their work. His passion shines through in his meticulous planning of programs that link academia with engineers, his collaborations with faculty and companies, and his efforts to inspire the ecosystem to prioritize industry advancement.”
We spoke with Haspel to celebrate his achievement and understand what drives his zeal for bringing academia closer to the industry.
Q: How did you start your career in global academic partnerships?
During my PhD days, I observed a significant gap in educational resources for university students, and I noticed that professors were struggling to develop curricula related to chip design. The idea of bridging this gap between industry and academia was always in the back of my mind, even as I transitioned into a career in key account sales within the industry. In the early stages of my career, I gained valuable exposure to company operations and customer relations. It was then that I realized the immense potential of leveraging the strengths of academia to benefit the industry.
My combined experience helped me realize that there was an opportunity to weave together industry and academia. I was excited bringing two different worlds together and demonstrating the mutual benefits they could gain without the transactional nature of traditional partnerships. This vision guided the growth and development of the SARA program.
Having spearheaded numerous academic partnerships over the last twenty years, I’ve been able to provide value to universities using non-monetary currencies to ensure the next generation is skilled in semiconductor software and methodologies and has everything they need to join the industry. This includes giving universities access to Synopsys tools and educational materials, successful research partnerships, talent generation, hands-on learning experiences, and product introduction.
Q: What does winning the 2024 SIGDA Distinguished Service Award mean to you?
I’m so proud to be part of ACM SIGDA and grateful to have opportunities to meet others from the scientific community. When it comes to innovation, staying within your bubble isn’t beneficial. Instead, I’ve spent most of my professional career trying to change the culture of EDA and what academic/industry partnerships can look like. It has been a team effort, and it’s humbling to see all our hard work pay off.
This award also serves as a proof point for what Synopsys is doing through its SARA program to overcome the semiconductor talent shortage. We have the knowledge, expertise, and connections to work alongside the academic world, government affairs, customers, and more to continue creating workforce development programs. Really, this is just the beginning.
Q: As the Executive Director of the SARA program, how have you seen the program grow over the last five years, and what are you looking forward to?
Our program has reached a global scale, and we have built an exceptional, diverse team in several regions.
In the last five years, we have navigated significant global events that have profoundly influenced our industry and workforce. The COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, highlighted critical supply chain issues and underscored the indispensable role of semiconductors in advanced devices. This was followed by the signing of several global CHIPS Acts, which further emphasized the need for robust workforce development to secure the future of our industry.
These events demonstrated that initiatives like the SARA program could achieve even greater success when supported by national and regional efforts. We have adopted a united approach to developing programs at all levels, from enabling universities with access to Synopsys technology to strategic research partnerships to providing hands-on industry exposure through educational partnerships, ensuring that we comprehensively address the evolving needs of our industry.
A key factor in the program’s success has been the visionary leadership of Synopsys. The leadership team made a strategic decision to invest in the academic world early on, integrating it as a vital component of the semiconductor ecosystem. They recognized that workforce development is a mutually beneficial endeavor—enhancing opportunities for students, strengthening our company, and delivering value to our customers.
Looking ahead, my goal is to see Synopsys become the preferred technology partner of choice, empowering the workforce of tomorrow. By continuing to foster strong connections between academia and industry, we can ensure that we are well-prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Q: Do you have advice for up-and-coming engineering students hoping to pursue a semiconductor career?
As we embark on this era of pervasive intelligence, it’s important to understand that while AI is a powerful tool, it’s not enough to solve the workforce issue. The semiconductor industry will always need skilled engineers to create better chips; human intelligence is necessary to be successful in chip design. Instead, AI will only make their jobs more exciting by taking over the legwork and more time-consuming tasks. AI will not make semiconductor jobs obsolete, it will only free up their time to do more meaningful work.
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