RIYADH: King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and Mentor Graphics (NASDAQ:MENT), a technology leader in Electronic Design Automation (EDA) will be cooperating for the promotion and development of Electronics Design Technology in Saudi Arabia. This cooperation is based on the agreement signed by both parties to establish the Advanced Microelectronics Technology Center (AMTC) at KACST. The Center will contribute to the Saudi National Strategic Plan through the Advanced Technology Program (ATP), the Professional Training Program (PTP) and the Incubation Support Program (ISP). These programs are the first steps of cooperation between KACST and Mentor Graphics, with more programs running under KACST’s AMTC to be initiated later.
Under the initial agreement, Mentor Graphics will provide comprehensive design automation software as well as consulting and training services. As part of the agreement, the company will cooperate with government bodies, as well as extend its university outreach program in Saudi Arabia.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has developed a strategic national science and technology plan to be carried out over the next 20 years,” explained Dr.Turki bin Saud bin Mohamed Al-Saud, Vice President for research at KACST. “KACST was assigned the responsibility of planning and managing the execution of the Science and Technology plan. This plan promotes and encourages research in many areas, a very important one being advanced technology in microelectronics.”
Dr. Sami Alhamidi, the Electronics, Communications and Photonics Program Director at KACST added: “In order to initiate and establish an innovation cycle in the field of electronics design, the electronics community in the Kingdom must become proficient with state-of-the-art electronic technologies. Therefore, one of the principal drivers for the successful implementation of the microelectronics R&D plan is the cooperation with world-class global companies specialized in EDA technologies such as Mentor Graphics.”