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Siemens Digital Industries Software

3D IC

A Tech News , News and Technology podcast

#138 in Tech News · 🇰🇷
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About the show

As the semiconductor industry struggles with the limits of Moore’s Law, traditional monolithic scaling is no longer enough to meet performance, power, area and cost demands in technology, design, analysis, and manufacturing. 3D IC by Siemens is your go-to podcast for exploring the cutting-edge world of 3D IC packaging—a revolutionary approach reshaping semiconductor design, system integration, and heterogeneous computing. Join industry leaders, engineers, and innovators as we break down advanced IC packaging solutions like 2.5D/3D IC, FCBGA, FOWLP, and more. Discover how chiplets, multi-die integration, and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) are driving higher performance, lower power consumption, and scalable architectures. In each episode, we dive deep into the challenges and opportunities of IC design and manufacturing, including: Roadmap for advanced packaging and heterogeneous integration in semiconductor scaling Mainstream adoption of 3D IC—key challenges and breakthroughs Optimizing micro-architecture and integration platforms for performance and efficiency Strategic planning of chiplets and interposers for hierarchical device integration Leveraging early predictive multi-physics analysis to enhance design accuracy Automating design and routing for RDL-based fan-out wafer-level packaging (FOWLP) Exploring glass substrates for superior electrical and thermal performance Developing test-vehicles and daisy chain designs for architectural validation Ensuring reliability and manufacturability in 3D IC heterogeneous integration Mastering Signal Integrity (SI) and Power Integrity (PI) Analysis for high-speed systems Managing thermal challenges in stacked die architectures Subscribe now and stay ahead in the world of 3D IC. Learn more: Siemens 3D IC Packaging Solutions

Newest episodes

Nothing's for Free: Piyush Sancheti on the Real Trade-Offs Behind 3D IC Adoption

33 min

From AI accelerators to automotive silicon, what does it actually take — organizationally, economically, and technically — to make 3D IC work in the real world? What you’ll learn... (01:59) What's already shipping: real-world 2.5D and 3D IC products in data centers, mobile devices, and AI accelerators — and why linear, monolithic SoC flows no longer scale for 3D IC design (05:44) Is 3D IC the right economic decision? Weighing ROI and the two forks in the road (08:24) Geopolitics and the shift from single-foundry lock-in to a fragmented, multi-supplier ecosystem (11:01) The cultural shift: bringing electrical, mechanical, and materials science disciplines together (13:54) Why EDA is the glue for multidisciplinary 3D IC design (14:32) STCO explained: shifting design decisions left with a unified "cockpit" view (18:36) Inside the expanded Siemens–NVIDIA AI partnership announced at CES 2026 (20:03) Why system companies are moving into custom silicon — Meta's MTIA and Tesla's Dojo 3 (24:11) Looking ahead: integrated photonics, glass interposers, and wafer-scale computing (29:37) Physical AI at the edge: latency, power, and reliability requirements More about this episode... In this episode of the Siemens 3D IC Podcast, closing out the season, host Tova Levy speaks with Piyush Sancheti, VP of Central Engineering Solutions (3D IC) at Siemens EDA, for a full-circle look at where 3D IC adoption stands today. Piyush explains that 3D IC has moved well past research: 2.5D packaging is now mainstream in AI and HPC, and true 3D stacking is moving beyond HBM into logic dies. But the biggest lesson for early adopters isn't technical, it's organizational: linear, monolithic SoC flows don't scale once packaging, multi-physics, and manufacturing all have to be considered together from day one. That theme carries through the economics of adoption (there's no one-size-fits-all, it depends on end market), the geopolitical push toward a diversified, multi-supplier ecosystem,...

From Hype to Engineering: How AI Actually Works in 3D IC design

32 min

What can AI actually do in 3D IC design today — and what's still science fiction? What you’ll learn… (01:25) Sudarshan's role leading global 3D IC software R&D at Siemens (02:30) The real starting challenges of 3D IC design — and why there's no playbook yet (05:25) Breaking down organizational silos between silicon, packaging, and mechanical teams (05:49) Why semiconductor AI must be domain-specific, not just a chatbot (10:34) AI as an engineering co-pilot for design space exploration (13:38) Beyond design: AI's impact on materials, yield, and reliability prediction (17:41) The shift toward AI-native, multiphysics co-optimization workflows (21:16) Ethical pitfalls: explainability, data governance, and IP protection (24:50) AI's role in the global, geopolitical semiconductor landscape (27:48) How Siemens is building this with HEEDS and the Fuse EDA AI system More about this episode… In this episode of the Siemens 3D IC Podcast, host Tova Levy speaks with Sudarshan Deo, Software Engineering Manager for 3D IC at Siemens, about what AI can — and can't — actually do in 3D IC design today, and why the hype rarely matches the reality on the ground. Sudarshan breaks down the biggest misconception in the field: that AI is either a magic box that will design chips end-to-end, or just hype dressed up as a buzzword. The truth, he argues, sits in between — semiconductor AI has to be domain-specific, physics-aware, and explainable, not a general-purpose chatbot. He walks through where AI is already delivering value, from narrowing design space exploration in chiplet partitioning and floor planning, to identifying promising materials and process combinations, to flagging reliability risks like thermal cycling and stress before they become expensive late-stage fixes. The conversation also covers the organizational side — how 3D IC forces silicon, packaging, and mechanical teams out of their silos — and the ethical considerations that come with deeper AI adoption: exp...

Beyond the Silo: Managing Data at the Speed of 3D IC Design

23 min

What happens when a single untracked design change turns into a multi-billion-dollar public scandal? What you’ll learn... (00:00) Why data — not just design — is the hidden challenge behind every 3D IC (01:55) A real-world case study: how poor traceability triggered a costly public recall (04:06) The "mini database" problem: how tool sprawl scatters chip design data (06:10) Why 3D IC makes data management so much harder than traditional SoC design (08:32) What is an "atomic change," and why it's critical for design consistency (10:15) Three foundational building blocks for managing data at scale (12:42) IPLM vs. PLM: what's the difference, and why do you need both? (15:19) The human cost of poor data management: hunting, silos, and burnout (18:15) Why better data management makes onboarding faster and easier (19:42) Inside the Perforce–Siemens partnership and what's next for 3D IC workflows More about this episode… In this episode of the Siemens 3D IC Podcast, host Tova Levy speaks with Vishal Moondhra, VP of Solutions at Perforce Software, about why data — not just design complexity — may be the biggest hidden risk in 3D IC development, and what teams can do about it. Vishal opens with a real-world cautionary tale: a major chip company that shipped a security flaw across its product line, then discovered it lacked the traceability to know which variants needed the fix — a gap that led to a multi-billion-dollar hit to its market cap. From there, the conversation digs into why 3D IC makes this problem so much worse: every tool builds its own "mini database," changes ripple across interdependent dies and interposers, and AI-driven workflows are only multiplying the volume of data being generated. Vishal introduces the concept of the "atomic change" — capturing everything or nothing, so partial updates never slip through — and lays out the foundational building blocks of scalable data management, before drawing a clear line between PLM (product-level, slo...

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All episodes

Nothing's for Free: Piyush Sancheti on the Real Trade-Offs Behind 3D IC Adoption

33 min

From AI accelerators to automotive silicon, what does it actually take — organizationally, economically, and technically — to make 3D IC work in the real world? What you’ll learn... (01:59) What's already shipping: real-world 2.5D and 3D IC products in data centers, mobile devices, and AI accelerators — and why linear, monolithic SoC flows no longer scale for 3D IC design (05:44) Is 3D IC the right economic decision? Weighing ROI and the two forks in the road (08:24) Geopolitics and the shift from single-foundry lock-in to a fragmented, multi-supplier ecosystem (11:01) The cultural shift: bringing electrical, mechanical, and materials science disciplines together (13:54) Why EDA is the glue for multidisciplinary 3D IC design (14:32) STCO explained: shifting design decisions left with a unified "cockpit" view (18:36) Inside the expanded Siemens–NVIDIA AI partnership announced at CES 2026 (20:03) Why system companies are moving into custom silicon — Meta's MTIA and Tesla's Dojo 3 (24:11) Looking ahead: integrated photonics, glass interposers, and wafer-scale computing (29:37) Physical AI at the edge: latency, power, and reliability requirements More about this episode... In this episode of the Siemens 3D IC Podcast, closing out the season, host Tova Levy speaks with Piyush Sancheti, VP of Central Engineering Solutions (3D IC) at Siemens EDA, for a full-circle look at where 3D IC adoption stands today. Piyush explains that 3D IC has moved well past research: 2.5D packaging is now mainstream in AI and HPC, and true 3D stacking is moving beyond HBM into logic dies. But the biggest lesson for early adopters isn't technical, it's organizational: linear, monolithic SoC flows don't scale once packaging, multi-physics, and manufacturing all have to be considered together from day one. That theme carries through the economics of adoption (there's no one-size-fits-all, it depends on end market), the geopolitical push toward a diversified, multi-supplier ecosystem,...

From Hype to Engineering: How AI Actually Works in 3D IC design

32 min

What can AI actually do in 3D IC design today — and what's still science fiction? What you’ll learn… (01:25) Sudarshan's role leading global 3D IC software R&D at Siemens (02:30) The real starting challenges of 3D IC design — and why there's no playbook yet (05:25) Breaking down organizational silos between silicon, packaging, and mechanical teams (05:49) Why semiconductor AI must be domain-specific, not just a chatbot (10:34) AI as an engineering co-pilot for design space exploration (13:38) Beyond design: AI's impact on materials, yield, and reliability prediction (17:41) The shift toward AI-native, multiphysics co-optimization workflows (21:16) Ethical pitfalls: explainability, data governance, and IP protection (24:50) AI's role in the global, geopolitical semiconductor landscape (27:48) How Siemens is building this with HEEDS and the Fuse EDA AI system More about this episode… In this episode of the Siemens 3D IC Podcast, host Tova Levy speaks with Sudarshan Deo, Software Engineering Manager for 3D IC at Siemens, about what AI can — and can't — actually do in 3D IC design today, and why the hype rarely matches the reality on the ground. Sudarshan breaks down the biggest misconception in the field: that AI is either a magic box that will design chips end-to-end, or just hype dressed up as a buzzword. The truth, he argues, sits in between — semiconductor AI has to be domain-specific, physics-aware, and explainable, not a general-purpose chatbot. He walks through where AI is already delivering value, from narrowing design space exploration in chiplet partitioning and floor planning, to identifying promising materials and process combinations, to flagging reliability risks like thermal cycling and stress before they become expensive late-stage fixes. The conversation also covers the organizational side — how 3D IC forces silicon, packaging, and mechanical teams out of their silos — and the ethical considerations that come with deeper AI adoption: exp...

Beyond the Silo: Managing Data at the Speed of 3D IC Design

23 min

What happens when a single untracked design change turns into a multi-billion-dollar public scandal? What you’ll learn... (00:00) Why data — not just design — is the hidden challenge behind every 3D IC (01:55) A real-world case study: how poor traceability triggered a costly public recall (04:06) The "mini database" problem: how tool sprawl scatters chip design data (06:10) Why 3D IC makes data management so much harder than traditional SoC design (08:32) What is an "atomic change," and why it's critical for design consistency (10:15) Three foundational building blocks for managing data at scale (12:42) IPLM vs. PLM: what's the difference, and why do you need both? (15:19) The human cost of poor data management: hunting, silos, and burnout (18:15) Why better data management makes onboarding faster and easier (19:42) Inside the Perforce–Siemens partnership and what's next for 3D IC workflows More about this episode… In this episode of the Siemens 3D IC Podcast, host Tova Levy speaks with Vishal Moondhra, VP of Solutions at Perforce Software, about why data — not just design complexity — may be the biggest hidden risk in 3D IC development, and what teams can do about it. Vishal opens with a real-world cautionary tale: a major chip company that shipped a security flaw across its product line, then discovered it lacked the traceability to know which variants needed the fix — a gap that led to a multi-billion-dollar hit to its market cap. From there, the conversation digs into why 3D IC makes this problem so much worse: every tool builds its own "mini database," changes ripple across interdependent dies and interposers, and AI-driven workflows are only multiplying the volume of data being generated. Vishal introduces the concept of the "atomic change" — capturing everything or nothing, so partial updates never slip through — and lays out the foundational building blocks of scalable data management, before drawing a clear line between PLM (product-level, slo...

The Wire Problem: Why Advanced Packaging Is the Only Answer Left as Moore's Law Runs Out

24 min

What does it take to build a chip when the chip itself is an ecosystem — and the wire connecting everything has become the biggest bottleneck in modern semiconductors? What you’ll learn... (00:56) Bob's background and the founding of NHanced Semiconductors (01:17) What "foundry agnostic" really means — and why trust matters (03:16) How advanced packaging became a front-and-center design discipline (04:30) Why wire — not transistors — now dominates power and delay (06:46) The ecosystem village: EDA vendors, foundries, and test houses (09:05) NHanced's collaboration with Siemens and Calibre 3D (11:09) Making 3D IC accessible: MPWs, chiplets, and lower barriers to entry (15:00) DFM advice: test planning, wire length, and stakeholder alignment (18:30) Three to five years out: chiplets, photonics, and targeted designs (23:05) Bob's message to the ecosystem: invest in the ADK/PDK flow More about this episode... In this episode of the Siemens 3D IC Podcast, host Tova Levy speaks with Bob Patti, President and CEO of NHanced Semiconductors, about what it takes to build and scale advanced packaging — and why the wire, not the transistor, has become the defining challenge of modern chip design. Bob opens by explaining what makes NHhanced's foundry-agnostic model work: the company operates like a CMOS fab but builds no transistors, positioning it as a trusted neutral partner rather than a competitor to the foundries it works with. That neutrality is what allows NHanced to take material from virtually every major fab in the world and integrate it into complex 2.5D and 3D packages. He then makes the case for why advanced packaging has moved from a backend afterthought to a front-and-center discipline. As transistors have scaled, wiring has gotten worse — now accounting for roughly 95% of the power and delay in modern circuitry. Advanced packaging attacks that problem directly, reducing wire length by orders of magnitude and enabling power reductions of up to 1000x...

From Silos to System: Sujit Sharan on the Cultural and Technical Shift 3D IC Demands

29 min

What does it take for one of the world's most complex engineering organisations to commit — fully — to 3D IC as a strategic direction? And what does that commitment reveal about the gaps the entire industry still needs to close? What you’ll learn... (02:07) Sujit's background: 30+ years in semiconductor processing and packaging, 300+ patents across X-ray lithography, CMP, and advanced thin film (02:07) The three vectors driving Intel's 3D IC strategy: reticle size limits, AI/HPC memory bandwidth demands, and chiplet cost efficiency (04:33) EMIB for 2.5D lateral die-to-die interconnects, and Foveros / Foveros Direct for 3D vertical copper-to-copper hybrid bonding (06:48) Tackling design partitioning, thermal management, power delivery, and testability through STCO — System Technology Co-Optimization (09:45) The biggest ecosystem challenge: breaking down cultural silos between silicon, package, and board design teams (13:10) Why showing engineers real co-design data was the decisive factor in driving the mindset shift (14:33) The EDA gaps still needing breakthroughs: full-stack digital twin, integrated multi-physics simulation, and cloud-based collaboration (17:50) Killer app segments: AI and HPC, autonomous driving, communications bandwidth, and AI-driven EDA automation (20:16) What the 3D IC era demands of engineers: T-shaped skills, cross-domain awareness, and real-world trade-off thinking (24:57) Sujit's call to action: shift from tool-centric to system-level thinking, build the digital twin, standardise data exchange More about this episode... In this episode of the Siemens 3D IC Podcast, host Tova Levy speaks with Sujit Sharan, Intel Fellow in the Advanced Packaging Technology & Manufacturing Organization at Intel Corporation. With over 30 years in semiconductor processing and packaging and more than 300 issued patents, Sujit is one of the industry's foremost voices on making 3D IC real at production scale. Three forces drive Intel's 3D IC strategy...

The Hidden Time Bomb: Engineering Reliability Into 3D IC From Day One

29 min

What happens when reliability can no longer be guaranteed by simply following the rules? What you’ll learn... (01:08) Andras's path from Flomerics and MicReD to Siemens EDA (01:52) Why 3D IC reliability breaks from traditional 2D design (05:04) The physics of CTE mismatch: warpage, cracking, delamination (08:55) How performance-driven choices create a thermal time bomb (11:31) Why failures happen at interfaces: solder, hybrid bonding, TIMs (17:51) The human side: breaking silos between thermal, electrical, mechanical teams (21:53) Siemens' digital continuity vision via Innovator3D IC Integrator (22:11) The path to automation: agentic AI, natural-language tools (26:43) Andras's key message: don't treat reliability as an afterthought More about this episode… In this episode of the Siemens 3D IC Podcast, host Tova Levy speaks with Andras Vass-Varnai, Solution Architect for 3D IC reliability at Siemens EDA, about why reliability can no longer be guaranteed simply by following design rules — and what it takes to build it in from day one. Andras explains why 3D IC breaks the old reliability playbook: in 2D packaging, reliability is largely baked into process rules, but the sheer number of design choices in 3D IC — stacking, floor planning, materials, cooling — means reliability has to be checked continuously, not verified at the end. He walks through the physics behind this: CTE mismatch between stacked materials causes warpage that accumulates with thermal cycling, ultimately leading to cracking or delamination — and breaks down where failures actually happen, with solder interconnects as the likely weak link, hybrid bonding as a manufacturing-sensitive but operationally strong alternative, and thermal interface materials as a make-or-break factor. The conversation also covers the organizational side — how breakdowns in communication between thermal, electrical, and mechanical teams become reliability risks of their own — and Siemens' approach to closing th...

Beyond the Data Pipe: Why Connectivity IP Is Now the System-Critical Layer in Every 3D IC

21 min

What does it actually mean for connectivity IP to stop being a supporting function — and become the layer that determines whether a 3D IC delivers on its promise? What you’ll learn... (02:45) Archana's background: semiconductor IP, high-speed clocking, and AI memory subsystems (03:49) Alphawave Semi's role in 3D IC — and why the interconnect layer is now foundational (05:40) 3D IC integration headaches: signal integrity, power delivery, and thermal hotspots (07:59) IP development for 3D ICs: co-optimizing with packaging, interposers, and photonics (10:02) Friction points: methodology inertia, ecosystem immaturity, and standardization vs. customization (12:26) Balancing performance, reliability, and manufacturability — and Alphawave Semi's validation approach (14:51) The magic wand pick: open chiplet interoperability and solving thermal constraints (17:27) What's accelerating now: UCIe adoption, cross-chain collaboration, photonics, and advanced packaging More about this episode... In this Season 3 premiere of the Siemens 3D IC Podcast, new host Tova Levy speaks with Archana Cheruliyil, Principal Product Marketing Manager at Alphawave Semi, a Qualcomm company, about what it really takes to develop IP for 3D ICs — and why connectivity has shifted from a background function to a system-defining one. Alphawave Semi's portfolio spans UCIe die-to-die interconnect, HBM memory interfaces, PCIe, CXL, and custom silicon, all optimized for the disaggregated architectures that 3D IC design demands. Archana places connectivity IP at the center of the challenge: in stacked, chiplet-based designs, the interconnect layer directly determines system performance, power efficiency, and scalability. Signal integrity behaves differently in dense 3D electromagnetic environments, power delivery must be managed vertically across multiple dies, and thermal hotspots in stacked logic have no easy escape path — forcing teams into system-level trade-offs across signal, power, thermal...

From 2.5D to True 3D IC: What’s Driving the Next Wave of Integration

18 min

How do you transition from today’s 2.5D systems into tomorrow’s true 3D IC architectures — while balancing cost, performance, and thermal demands? What you’ll learn… Where hyperscalers and AI accelerator developers are leading the 3D IC adoption curve. Why design enablement and ecosystems are still evolving for mainstream adoption. The tipping points that push companies toward 2.5D/3D IC designs. The new methodology requirements: system-centric, predictive, shift-left modeling. Why siloed design teams can’t meet the demands of advanced 3D IC. How Siemens’ portfolio and AE expertise help customers adapt tools, methods, and organizations for success. What you’ll discover… (01:40) Current state of 3D IC adoption: hyperscalers, AI accelerators, and beyond. (04:20) 3D VS 2.5D design and (hybrid bonding, stacking, bridges). (05:30) Why customers want to learn more about 3D IC design. (06:50) Why do customers move over to 3D IC design? (08:25) Challenges in 3D IC design. (10:20) Methodology shifts: early system-level planning and predictive modeling (13:30) Siemens’ broad portfolio, roadmap collaboration, and multi-physics modeling (15:45) The 5-year outlook: chiplet standards, system-on-wafer, and power/thermal battles More about this episode… In this episode of the Siemens 3D IC Podcast, host John McMillan speaks with Kevin Rinebold, 3D IC Packaging and Account Technology Manager at Siemens EDA. With over 35 years of customer-facing experience, Kevin shares insights into the evolution of advanced packaging, chiplet integration, and the methodologies needed for the next wave of 3D IC adoption. The discussion covers how hyperscalers are driving AI and high-performance compute with 2.5D and emerging 3D approaches, why design enablement remains uneven across the supply chain, and what’s required to balance thermal, power, and signal considerations at scale. Kevin emphasizes that 3D IC isn’t just a technical challenge; it’s an organizational shi...

Why Every 3D IC Needs a Test Vehicle Before It Hits Production

18 min

How do you ensure that cutting-edge 3D IC designs can actually be manufactured before investing millions in production? What you’ll learn… What test vehicles are and why they’re indispensable for validating manufacturability How daisy chain structures pinpoint weaknesses in bumps, balls, and die connections Who builds test vehicles: OSATs, foundries, or customers, and why it matters How test vehicles strengthen collaboration between OEMs and OSATs The hidden value of test vehicles in reliability, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation Where you’ll find it…. (02:00) What a test vehicle is when it’s needed (03:20) Real-world example: testing embedded chips before mass production (06:00) Who’s responsible for creating test vehicles? (07:20) How do test vehicles factor into the relationship between the OSATs and the OEMs? (09:25) The link between test vehicles and PCB design practices (11:12) Beyond connectivity: heaters, capacitive structures, and stacked vias (15:25) Automotive and regulatory requirements for reliability testing (17:15) Why engineers shouldn’t design daisy chains by hand More about this episode… In this episode of the Siemens 3D IC Podcast, host John McMillan talks with Kendall Hiles, Senior 3D IC Product Specialist at Siemens EDA, about the critical role of test vehicles and daisy chain design tests in semiconductor innovation. Unlike a final product, a test vehicle isn’t built to sell, it’s built to learn. Kendall Hiles explains how test vehicles act as manufacturing “test beds,” enabling engineers to validate new processes and technologies before scaling up to costly production runs. The conversation dives into daisy chain design tests, a clever way of stringing together bumps and balls to measure connectivity and identify failure points with precision. Kendall also highlights when OSATs, foundries, or customers should take ownership of creating test vehicles, and how they factor into collaboration between OEMs and...

Breaking Down 50 Million Pins: A Smarter Way to Design 3D IC Packages

10 min

How do you design and verify a package with tens of millions of pins — without losing months to manual rework? What you’ll learn… Why chiplet-based architectures demand new approaches to IC packaging How hierarchical device planning reduces overwhelming complexity The risks of spreadsheet-based workflows and why they’re no longer viable How early, multi-domain analysis helps avoid costly late-stage redesigns What Siemens’ Innovator 3D IC Portfolio offers for synchronized, error-proof design Where you’ll find it…. (01:50) Current changes in IC Packaging and the impact on the whole ecosystem  (03:00) How to manage complexity scaling  (03:35) What hierarchical device planning is and why it matters  (05:00) How traditional methods fall short for high-pin-count designs  (06:20) The risks and consequences of package assembly errors  (07:00) What next-gen tools must deliver for designers  (09:10) Siemens’ Innovator 3D IC Portfolio overview  More about this episode… In this episode of the Siemens 3D IC Podcast, host John McMillan speaks with Per Viklund, Director of IC Packaging and RF Product Lines at Siemens EDA, about the growing challenge of managing chiplet and interposer complexity in advanced 3D IC designs. Per explains how hierarchical device planning enables designers to work at the right level of abstraction, streamlining the creation, optimization, and verification of massive, high-pin-count packages. The discussion covers why spreadsheet-based methods no longer cut it, the risks of unsynchronized workflows, and how early, multi-domain analysis can prevent costly late-stage redesigns. The episode also introduces Siemens’ Innovator 3D IC Portfolio — a unified, AI-infused solution designed to support the entire packaging workflow, from early planning through final layout, with built-in data management to eliminate version errors. Ideal for IC packaging engineers, 3D IC architects, chiplet designers, substrate fabricators, and verificati...

Why SI/PI is Mission-Critical for 3D IC Success

15 min

How do you ensure clean, stable power and reliable signal transmission in a dense 3D IC stack without introducing late-stage surprises? What you’ll learn… What SI/PI means and why it’s essential for 3D IC reliability How 3D design shifts traditional SI/PI workflows and stakeholder roles What progressive verification looks like in practice—from architectural feasibility to detailed modeling How new standards like UCIe and AIB add flexibility—and ambiguity—to the design process The real-world challenges Siemens overcame with Chiplets, a smart substrate startup Where you’ll find it…. What is SI/PI and why does it matter in 3D IC? (1:40) How does the SI/PI flow differ from traditional monolithic designs? (3:20) What is progressive verification, and how does it help? (5:55) Who are the key stakeholders—and why is collaboration essential? (9:20) The story behind Siemens’ partnership with Chiplets (11:35) Final thoughts on the future of 3D IC and SI/PI’s role (14:05) In this episode of the Siemens 3D IC Podcast, host John McMillan sits down with John Caka, Principal SI/PI Engineer at Siemens EDA, to explore why signal and power integrity (SI/PI) analysis is more vital than ever in 3D IC workflows—and why progressive verification is key to managing complexity at every stage of design. Together, they unpack the evolving demands of SI/PI in 3D IC architecture, from early planning to vendor-specific IP verification. You'll learn how multidisciplinary teams—spanning layout, thermal, mechanical, electrical, and packaging—must align in parallel to make next-gen designs successful.  This episode also shares behind-the-scenes insight into Siemens’ recent collaboration with Chiplets, highlighting the EDA tool flexibility and scalability needed for today’s massive pin-count designs. Ideal for SI/PI engineers, 3D IC architects, packaging teams, die designers, layout specialists, and system-level verification professionals. Connect with John McMillan Link...

From Chiplets to Systems: Overcoming the Hidden Pitfalls of 3D IC Design

17 min

What does “multiphysics” really mean in 3D IC design—and why is it more important than ever to start early? What you’ll discover: Learn how early predictive multiphysics analysis can help prevent thermal, stress, and electrical failures later in the design cycle Understand the collaboration challenges across die, interposer, packaging, and RTL teams—and how to unify them Hear real-world insights on how system-level ownership and EDA platforms reduce risk in complex 3D IC projects Get up to speed on emerging standards like 3D Blocks and 3D PDKs that are shaping the future of chiplet integration Discover how simulation and digital twin strategies enable more accurate system-level behavior modeling In this episode of the Siemens 3D IC Podcast, host John McMillan is joined by returning guest John Ferguson, Senior Director of Product Management for Calibre 3D IC Solutions at Siemens EDA, and first-time guest Tarek Ramadhan, Application Engineering Manager for 3D IC Technical Solutions. Together, they explore why traditional SoC methodologies fall short in the 3D world, how early predictive analysis can save teams from costly late-stage surprises, and why effective collaboration across domains (and companies) is essential. From thermal and stress concerns to data format mismatches and emerging standards like 3D Blocks, this episode delivers powerful insight into future-ready 3D IC design. 👉 Ideal for IC designers, system architects, packaging engineers, RTL and ESD teams, and anyone involved in the transition from 2D to 3D IC workflows. Find what you’re looking for: How is the design process shifting from 2D and 2.5D to 3D IC (2:25) What is multi-physics, and how does it impact 3D IC design? (5:00) The hidden collaboration pitfalls between die, interposer, and packaging teams (7:30) How is it impacting collaboration between companies or within companies and between teams? (10:45) The role of new standards like 3D Blocks and 3D IC PDKs (...

Why 3D ICs Need a Mindset Shift—and How to Make It Happen

25 min

What does it take to turn 3D IC from a buzzword into a successful reality, and how early should you start thinking about system-level planning? Get practical insight into why system-level planning is essential from day one of your 3D IC project. You’ll learn how to avoid costly design iterations, streamline collaboration across domains, and accelerate time to market with co-design and early simulation strategies. In this episode of the Siemens 3D IC podcast, host John McMillan sits down with Tony Mastroianni, Advanced Packaging Solutions Director at Siemens EDA. With decades of experience in design, integration, and manufacturing, Tony shares why system-level planning is a critical first step, not an afterthought, when tackling 3D IC projects. They unpack the common pitfalls of treating package design as isolated from system goals and how the shift from chip-centric to system-centric thinking can redefine success in high-density, high-performance integration. Tony also discusses the value of co-design, early simulation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration to reduce iterations, control cost, and accelerate time to market. If you're involved in semiconductors, EDA tools, IC packaging, or advanced integration, this episode offers clear, actionable insight into the future of electronics design. Recommended for: System architects, IC designers, semiconductor packaging engineers, EDA tool users, design managers, and anyone working on or interested in 3D IC implementation. What You’ll Learn in this Episode: From a dozen transistors per chip to trillions: What 30 years in the industry can teach you. (1:32) How to realize that 3D IC workflows must change within a company. (5:50)  What type of resistance can be expected when implementing design or workflow changes? (07:00) What internal changes are required better to address the cross-disciplinary demands of 3D IC system design? (9:30) Final thoughts (23:00) Connect with John McMillan LinkedIn Website...

The Hidden Heat Challenge of 3D ICs—and What Designers Need to Know

18 min

Why is thermal analysis no longer an afterthought in 3D IC design—and what is Siemens doing to empower engineers across every step of the process? In this episode of the Siemens EDA Podcast Series on 3D IC chiplet ecosystems, host John McMillan welcomes András Vass-Varnai, 3DIC Solutions Engineer at Siemens Digital Industries, to spotlight one of the most critical (and often underestimated) challenges in modern chip design: thermal analysis. As power densities soar and chiplets stack closer together than ever before, effective thermal management is essential—not just for performance, but for reliability, lifespan, and product feasibility. András explores how Siemens is bridging the gap between design, packaging, and thermal engineering through integrated toolchains and a new generation of digital twins. Whether you're a silicon designer, package architect, or thermal analyst, this episode offers valuable insights into the future of collaborative thermal modeling, IP protection, and real-time simulation integration. What You’ll Learn in this Episode: Andrass Vass-Varnai’s background and current role at Siemens EDA (1:25) How is the shift to 3D IC packaging affecting thermal analysis? (2:35) What is the issue with the current approach to thermal analysis? (4:20) What is the significance of having thermal models for the customers? (6:50) Siemens' vision for the ideal future workflow (11:00) Conclusion and future outlook (17:00) Connect with John McMillan LinkedIn Website Connect with Andras Vass-Varnai LinkedIn Website

Why Traditional PCB Methods Fall Short in 3D IC Design

13 min

Why are companies rapidly adopting fan-out wafer-level packaging (FO-WLP)—and how does this shift impact the traditional chip design process? In this episode of the Siemens 3D IC Podcast Series, host John McMillan is joined by Chris Cone, IC Packaging Product Marketing Manager at Siemens EDA, to explore how fan-out wafer-level packaging is transforming advanced semiconductor packaging workflows. Chris shares his journey from analog design engineer to packaging and automation expert, and breaks down the growing need for intelligent, automated workflows that support the increasing complexity and size of modern designs. They discuss how new IC packaging techniques demand more automation, design iteration, and cross-functional collaboration than ever before—and why building a replayable, flexible automation language is the key to faster, scalable design success. Whether you're a layout engineer, SI/PI analyst, or replay coordinator, this episode will show you how to streamline your process using a common design framework and why human-readable automation is the next big leap in fan-out design. What You’ll Learn in this Episode: Chris Cone’s journey from analog IC designer to Siemens EDA packaging lead (1:10) What is fan-out wafer-level packaging, and why is it gaining traction? (1:50) How FOWLP is different than a traditional BGA design process (2:30) The four major phases in a fan-out packaging workflow, from tech setup to final verification (3:45) What is the impact on different roles, such as a package designer, layout designer, engineer, signal integrity, power, and integrity analysis? (8:00) The three essential traits of successful design automation (10:00) Key takeaways from real-world projects using Siemens’ automated packaging flows (11:45) Connect with John McMillan LinkedIn Website Connect with Chris Cone Website

3D IC is Here—But Is Your Architecture Ready for It?

16 min

As 3DIC adoption ramps up, it’s becoming clear: microarchitecture needs a rethink. So how do you design hardware that can survive and thrive in the new era of stacked silicon? In this episode of the Siemens 3D IC Podcast, host John McMillan speaks with Pratyush Kamal, Director of R&D for 3D IC Solutions Engineering at Siemens Digital Industries. With decades of experience spanning Qualcomm and Google, Pratyush brings deep insight into the evolution of IC design—and how 3D integration is transforming every layer of the design stack. From redefining how and when microarchitecture decisions are made to overcoming the thermal, testing, and failure analysis challenges that come with 3D stacking, this episode dives into the critical topics design teams need to understand today. You’ll also hear how AI, automation, and cross-disciplinary expertise are reshaping team roles—and why software-defined silicon is redefining the design process itself. This episode is essential listening for IC architects, system designers, and packaging engineers navigating the transition to advanced 3D IC platforms. What You’ll Learn in this Episode: What is microarchitecture in IC design? (2:30) What does microarchitecture mean in 3D IC design? (3:20) How early do we need to consider microarchitecture in 3D IC design? (4:45) The main issues system designers face concerning the increasing complexity of microarchitecture (5:50) How are roles changing to enable a more holistic outlook on 3D IC microarchitecture? (9:15) What would enable non-silo design practice? (11:00) Closing thoughts (11:55) Connect with John McMillan LinkedIn Website Connect with Pratyush Kamal LinkedIn Website Explore More on 3D IC Innovation & Research: Deepen your understanding of 3D IC design with these valuable resources: Home | UCIe Consortium Die Stacking (3D) Microarchitecture | IEEE Conference Publication | IEEE Xplore Fine grain 3D integration for microarchitecture design through cube pac...

The Future of 3D ICs: How Advanced Packaging is Changing the Industry

12 min

How are 3D Integrated Circuits (3D ICs) revolutionizing semiconductor design, and what role do advanced packaging technologies play in this transformation? In this episode of the Siemens EDA Podcast Series on 3D IC chiplet ecosystems , host John McMillan sits down with Jan Vardaman, President and Founder of TechSearch International, to discuss the latest advancements in 3D IC technology, heterogeneous integration, and advanced semiconductor packaging. Jan shares insights on why 3D ICs are gaining traction, the key industry drivers behind their adoption, and how companies are overcoming integration challenges. She also explores the role of chiplets, AI-driven design processes, and supply chain shifts in shaping the future of semiconductor manufacturing. Whether you're a semiconductor engineer, a tech enthusiast, or a business leader looking to stay ahead in the industry, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the next generation of IC design. What You’ll Learn in this Episode: The main drivers for advanced integration ( heterogeneous or homogeneous silicon) from a technology and business point of view. (02:10) Specific market segments and industries that are driving these advanced integrations, including chiplet designs ( 3:10 ) The different needs and requirements for packaging ( 6:50 ) How different substrate materials (silicon, RDL, glass core, organic interposer bridges, etc.) compete and complement each other in specific applications ( 8:20 ) Siemens’ Innovator3D IC Platform (10:55) Connect with John McMillan LinkedIn Website Connect with Jan Vardaman LinkedIn Website

Uncovering 2.5D and 3D IC Tests

21 min

One of the best ways to speed-up product development is to integrate test as early as possible in the design cycle. This shift-left strategy becomes even more critical when advanced IC designs evolve from a single die per package to complex systems with multiple dies integrated into a package. These 2.5D and 3D multi-die design strategies pose some interesting challenges and opportunities for test. Today, David Lyell interviews Joe Reynick, the Tessent Product Engineering Manager for Siemens EDA. He’ll help us to understand the complexity of development tests for 3D and 2.5D packages. In this episode, you’ll learn about the challenges of performing comprehensive tests on 3D and 2.5D designs. You’ll also hear about the factors that you need to consider while planning for 3D DFT and IP tests. Additionally, you’ll hear about how 2.5D tests and 3D tests can complement each other. What You Will Learn In This Episode: The things you need to be aware of when doing 2.5D and 3D tests (03:34) The DFT and IP test methods that the DFT and IP test team should implement (09:36) The die and package level planning interactions needed for 3D DFT and IP test (11:22) Factors to consider while doing 3D tests (14:20) What is involved in multi-die IP core test (16:00) Connect with Joe Reynick:  LinkedIn Connect with David Lyell:  LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Started with 3D IC

27 min

3D IC designs are complex puzzles that engineers have to solve to achieve high performance and reliability. While vertical stacking gives more design options, it also increases the possible number of defective arrangements. There is no one-design-fits-all in 3D IC; engineers must understand their needs and create designs that meet them. Today, John McMillan interviews John Ferguson, Product Management Director of Calibre DRC Technologies at Siemens Digital EDA. He’ll help us understand the complexity of 3D IC designs and how it impacts their reliability. In this episode, you’ll learn about some of the guardrails that increase the reliability of 3D IC devices. You’ll also hear about some of the common challenges an engineer has to solve while designing such devices. Additionally, you’ll get some tips on where to start with 3D IC designs to minimize cost and maximize performance. What You Will Learn in this Episode: Improving the reliability of heterogeneous assemblies (01:36) Solving the heat problem in heterogeneous assemblies (07:46) The sources of mechanical stress in 3D IC assemblies and how to address them (14:44) Where to start when designing 3D IC devices (22:07) Connect with John Ferguson:  LinkedIn Connect with John McMillan:  LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3D IC Integration Challenges

21 min

A common challenge faced when actualizing new technologies such as 3D IC is the lack of specialized tools to mass assemble them. That’s because their designs are normally developed by R&D teams that view commercialization as someone else’s task. At the moment, organizations are working to create and perfect the tools need to assemble 3D IC chips. Today, John McMillan interviews John Ferguson, Director of Product Management, Dusan Petranovic, Principal Technologist, and Steve McKinney, Account Technology Manager. They’ll help us understand what a 3D IC verification workflow might look like. In this episode, you’ll learn about the challenges associated with 3D IC integration and the components required to make it possible. You’ll also learn about the upgrades that have to be made to make 3D IC assembly possible. Additionally, you’ll hear about parasitic extraction and the tools available to execute it. What You Will Learn In This Episode: Challenges faced in the manufacture of 3D IC chips (02:01) How to ensure that a 3D IC assembly line is aligned (04:18) The challenges of integrating 3D IC (10:55) The tools needed to make 3D IC integration possible (13:56) Connect with Dusan Petranovic:  LinkedIn Connect with Steve McKinney:  LinkedIn Connect with John McMillan:  LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3D IC Physical Design Workflow

20 min

One of the challenges of designing 3D IC chips is getting data from different sources in different formats to work together. You also need a solution that allows you to verify different components such as the interposer, the package, and the die together. Siemens solution allows you to combine data from different sources and handle the verification process collectively. Today, John McMillan interviews Mike Walsh, Technical Applications Engineering Director of the Technical Solutions Sales Team at Siemens Digital EDA. He’ll help understand what a 3D IC physical design workflow might look like. In this episode, you’ll learn about the challenges associated with 3D IC physical design. You’ll also learn about how Siemens solution enables design teams to use data received in different formats. Additionally, you’ll learn why it's important to keep verification in mind early on in the design process. What You Will Learn in this Episode: The challenges faced in the 3D IC physical design phase (01:33) The importance of a design solution that can deal with multiple data formats (03:39) How Siemens helps organizations combine data from different sources in different formats (07:55) The different aspects of 3D IC design flow (12:06) Connect with Mike Wash:  LinkedIn Connect with John McMillan:  LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3D IC Front-End Architecture

22 min

For 3D IC to achieve its full potential there is a need to utilize cost-effective front-end design approaches. This is because different microarchitectures will result in different physical sizes, power performance, and cost of production. One of the solutions that have been successfully deployed is the high-level predictive analysis which helps in figuring out optimal architectures for specific cases. In this episode, John McMillan interviews Anthony Mastroianni, the 3D IC Solutions Architect Director at Siemens Digital Industries Software. And, Gordon Allan, Product Manager for Verification IP Solutions at Siemens EDA. They’ll help us understand 3D IC front-end aspects and the latest developments in this field. In this episode, you’ll learn how predictive analytics can be utilized to make 3D IC design faster and cheaper. You’ll also learn what 3D IC front-end design involves and the best way of approaching it. Additionally, you’ll hear about what Siemens is doing to contribute towards making the design process more efficient. What You Will Learn in this Episode: The role of predictive analytics in the front-end design of 3D IC (03:03) How 3D IC packaging should be approached (08:35) The design aspects enabled by 3D IC (12:06) What Siemens is doing to help in front-end 3D IC design (14:50) Connect with Gordon Allan:  LinkedIn Connect with Anthony Mastroianni:  LinkedIn Connect with John McMillan:  LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3D IC Package Design Flows

14 min

In most cases, it’s very expensive to get game-changing technological advancements in electrical components to the market. This is because they also require the advancement of the existing design workflows and tools. This barrier has slowed down and even completely stopped the possible mass production of many revolutionary devices. 3D IC is not exempt from this challenge - that’s why several large companies have invested heavily in the development of new package design flows and tools to handle it. In this episode, John McMillan interviews Anthony Mastroianni, the 3D IC Solutions Architect Director at Siemens Digital Industries Software. He has been in the semiconductor industry for over 30 years, primarily in the design of custom integrated circuits. He will help us understand the necessary design flow changes needed to make 3D IC a reality. In this episode, you will learn about the differences between traditional semiconductor packaging and 3D IC packaging. You will also hear about the design workflow required to successfully build 3D IC-based devices. Additionally, you will hear about the new tools that are required to successfully create and test such devices. What You Will Learn in this Episode: The difference between 3D IC and traditional semiconductor packaging (01:37) Why 3D IC requires a change in package design flows (03:28) The workflows envisioned for 3D IC (05:57) The new tools required to handle the new workflows (07:47) The most critical 3D IC workflows (11:13) Connect with Anthony Mastroianni:  LinkedIn Connect with John McMillan:  LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Application and Adoption of 3D IC

12 min

Standardization plays an important role in promoting the mass adoption of new electrical components. For instance, Application-Specific Standard products, known as ASSP components have been broadly adopted by system designers for board-level integration. These devices have standardized models to enable the PCB level, system design ecosystem. Chiplets are an analogous component that can be integrated at the package level. That’s why the 3D IC design community will likely advocate for standardized models to be adopted by prospective chiplet vendors. In this episode, John McMillan interviews Anthony Mastroianni, the 3D IC Solutions Architect Director at Siemens Digital Industries Software. He is also a member of the Chiplet Design Exchange, whose charter is to standardize chiplet models and deliverables. He will help us understand the application of 3D IC and the need for standard chiplet models. In this episode, you will find out how the 3D IC technology is being utilized and the impact it is having. We will also discuss what the future holds for this new methodology and the steps that need to be made to drive its adoption. Lastly, you will learn about the progress being made in standardizing chiplet models and the need for defined workflows to facilitate a chiplet ecosystem. What You’ll Learn in this Episode: Types of applications and packaging technologies currently deploying 3D IC methodologies (01:37) Where the industry is heading in terms of 3D IC adoption (05:08) The types of chiplets available today (05:51) The role of Chiplet Design Exchange in driving 3D IC adoption (07:37) Connect with Anthony Mastroianni:  LinkedIn Connect with John McMillan:  LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An Introduction to 3D IC

22 min

Electronic circuits design has become more complex due to the consumers’ need for more features that require more processing capability. To keep up with these demands, new methodologies of designing and connecting chips have been developed. The latest innovation in this area is the three-dimensional integrated circuits (3D IC), which take less space and deliver much higher performance compared to traditional monolithic technologies. In this episode, John McMillan interviews Anthony Mastroianni, the 3D IC Solutions Architect Director at Siemens Digital Industries Software. He has been in the semiconductor industry for over 30 years, primarily in the design of custom integrated circuits. He’ll help us understand the 3D IC technology and the impact it’s expected to have. In this episode, you’ll learn about the current chip standards in the industry and where they fall short. You’ll also learn how 3D IC works and how it will help in solving most of the challenges facing today’s chips. Additionally, you’ll hear about the challenges that come with 3D IC and how some of them are being resolved. What You’ll Learn in this Episode: The problem that 3D IC solves (01:49) How 3D IC works and why it gives tremendous performance (06:37) The difference between 3D IC and other technologies (10:22) The challenges in moving to 3D IC (15:56) Connect with Anthony Mastroianni:  LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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