Synopsys

Synopsys, Inc.
	File:Synopsys Logo.svg
	File:675 Almanor Avenue.jpg Corporate headquarters in Sunnyvale, California
Company type	Public
Traded as	Template:NASDAQ; Nasdaq-100 constituent; S&P 500 constituent;
Industry	Integrated circuit; Software as a service; Software testing; Internet of Things;
Founded	1986; 40 years ago, in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, U.S.
Founders	Aart de Geus; David Gregory; Bill Krieger; Alberto Sangiovanni-Vincentelli
Headquarters	Sunnyvale, California, U.S.
Key people	Aart de Geus (chairman); Sassine Ghazi (president & CEO);
Revenue	Increase Template:US$ (2024)
Operating income	Increase Template:US$ (2024)
Net income	Increase Template:US$ (2024)
Total assets	Increase Template:US$ (2024)
Total equity	Increase Template:US$ (2024)
Number of employees	c. 33,000 (2025)
Divisions	Silicon Design & Verification, Silicon Intellectual Property, Software Integrity Group
Website	synopsys.com

Synopsys, Inc. is a global American corporation specializing in electronic design automation (EDA), headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. The company focuses on silicon design and verification, silicon intellectual property, and software security and quality assurance. It delivers a range of tools and services tailored for the semiconductor design and production sectors, including logic synthesis, integrated circuit physical design, simulation platforms, and debugging solutions that facilitate chip and system development.

History

Established in 1986 by Aart de Geus, David Gregory, Alberto Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, and Bill Krieger at Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, Synopsys originated as Optimal Solutions to commercialize logic synthesis innovations developed by General Electric’s Advanced Computer-Aided Engineering Group. In 1987, the firm rebranded as Synopsys and moved its operations to Mountain View, California. The company went public on NASDAQ in February 1992 with an initial share price of $18, closing its first trading day at $31.50.

In 2006, Synopsys engineered a supercomputer composed of standard Linux servers to handle resource-intensive EDA workloads; this machine achieved 3.7 teraflops performance and was ranked 242nd on the TOP500 supercomputers list.

Since 2017, Synopsys has been included in both the Nasdaq-100 and S&P 500 stock market indices. That same year, it established a $100 million strategic investment fund aimed at expanding its presence in the Chinese market.

In 2018, Synopsys collaborated with the People's Liberation Army National Defence University to offer FPGA design training while continuing to supply EDA software to companies controlled by regional Chinese governments.

The introduction of DSO.ai in early 2020 marked Synopsys’ entry into cloud-based AI solutions utilizing reinforcement learning to optimize chip placement and routing tasks. By March 2023, the company broadened its AI-driven toolset with offerings such as VSO.ai for verification processes and TSO.ai for testing automation.

In 2020, Synopsys joined DARPA’s Automatic Implementation of Secure Silicon initiative alongside industry leaders including ARM, Boeing, and IBM to advance automated secure chip design technologies.

After a 2021 report highlighted usage of its technology by the Chinese military, U.S. legislators called for stricter export controls on semiconductor manufacturing software.

In 2022, the U.S. Department of Commerce launched an inquiry into Synopsys over alleged unauthorized transfers of technology to sanctioned Chinese entities such as Huawei’s HiSilicon and SMIC.

Additionally that year, Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice conducted a raid on a firm supported by Synopsys accused of recruiting engineers from TSMC; Synopsys clarified it held only a minor stake and acted as a distributor for that company.

In October 2022, Synopsys became part of Intel’s US Military Aerospace and Government Alliance (USMAG), providing secure EDA tools and intellectual property to the U.S. Department of Defense alongside Cadence and Siemens EDA.

In August 2023, Sassine Ghazi was appointed CEO effective January 2024, succeeding founder Aart de Geus who transitioned to executive chairman.

November 2023 saw the launch of Synopsys.ai Copilot in partnership with Microsoft using OpenAI’s large language models to accelerate semiconductor chip design workflows.

In January 2024, Synopsys announced plans to acquire engineering software firm Ansys for $35 billion to strengthen its simulation software capabilities for chip designers across sectors such as automotive and aerospace; the two companies have collaborated since 2017.

To address regulatory concerns related to this acquisition, Synopsys agreed in September 2024 to divest its optical systems division to Keysight Technologies.

In October 2024, private equity firms Clearlake Capital and Francisco Partners finalized the purchase of Synopsys’ Software Integrity Group for up to $2.1 billion with plans to reestablish Black Duck Software as an independent application security company.

Mid-2025 witnessed a temporary suspension by the U.S. government of export licenses for Synopsys software shipments to China amid trade tensions; these restrictions were subsequently lifted following a trade agreement.

Mergers and acquisitions

Synopsys has grown its range of products and services by strategically acquiring companies specializing in silicon technology and design verification.

CoWare

CoWare, initially part of Belgium's IMEC since 1992, became an independent entity offering platform-based electronic system-level (ESL) design software and related services. Synopsys purchased CoWare in February 2010, thereby strengthening its ESL technology portfolio.

Code Dx

Operating between 2015 and 2021, Code Dx developed a vulnerability management platform that consolidated outputs from multiple static and dynamic analysis tools. Synopsys acquired Code Dx in 2021 to enhance its capabilities in software security solutions.

Avanti Corporation

Avanti Corporation was established by former employees of Cadence Design Systems after acquiring ArcSys and Integrated Silicon Solutions (ISS), securing essential tools such as Hercules for design rule checking and layout versus schematic verification. The company further expanded through acquisitions of Compass Design Automation and TMA, adding integrated circuit design flow tools and sophisticated Technology CAD (TCAD) features. Synopsys’ acquisition of Avanti in 2002 was a pivotal move but involved legal disputes with Cadence over allegations of software theft. Synopsys resolved the litigation by paying Cadence approximately $265 million and later settled related claims with Silvaco for $26.1 million. This acquisition significantly increased Synopsys' share in the electronic design automation (EDA) market and broadened its product lineup.

Magma Design Automation

In November 2011, Synopsys completed an all-cash acquisition of rival Magma Design Automation for $507 million, thereby reinforcing its competitive position. The two companies had previously engaged in patent conflicts dating back to 2004, concerning technologies developed by Magma co-founder Lukas van Ginneken during his tenure at Synopsys. These disputes were resolved in 2007 when Magma paid $12.5 million and both parties entered into cross-licensing agreements, paving the way for Synopsys’s eventual acquisition.

Ciranova

Ciranova focused on analog design automation, creating the PyCell software based on Python that is a critical component of IPL Alliance iPDK parameterized cells utilized by leading foundries such as TSMC. Additionally, it developed Helix, an automated analog layout tool. Synopsys acquired Ciranova in 2012 to augment its analog design offerings within its portfolio.

Novas Software

Established in 1996 to enhance chip design debugging processes, Novas Software was acquired by Taiwan’s SpringSoft in May 2008. Subsequently, both SpringSoft and Novas were integrated into Synopsys through acquisitions completed in 2012, expanding Synopsys’s verification and debugging solution capabilities.

Numerical Technologies

Based in San Jose and publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol NMTC, Numerical Technologies was recognized for its intellectual property and software centered on phase-shifting mask technology. In March 2003, Synopsys acquired Numerical Technologies for $250 million, incorporating its advanced lithography technologies into Synopsys’s suite of products.

SpringSoft

SpringSoft, established in February 1996 with backing from Taiwan's National Science Council, focused on software for VLSI design and debugging. In 1997, it launched Novas Software in Silicon Valley to promote its VLSI debugging solutions. The company also created the custom layout tool Laker and developed Silicon Canvas in the United States. By May 2008, SpringSoft merged Novas Software and Silicon Canvas into its fully owned subsidiary, SpringSoft USA. With a workforce exceeding 400 employees and a presence worldwide, SpringSoft experienced notable growth before its acquisition by Synopsys in 2012.

Synplicity

Synplicity Inc. delivered software tailored for programmable logic devices such as FPGAs, PLDs, and CPLDs across sectors including communications, defense/aerospace, consumer electronics, semiconductors, and computing. Its product suite provided logic synthesis, physical synthesis, and verification capabilities for FPGA and DSP developers. Traded publicly on Nasdaq until May 2008, Synplicity was acquired by Synopsys for $227 million, strengthening Synopsys’s position in the FPGA design software market.

ARC International

ARC International PLC engineered ARC embedded processors commonly integrated into SoC products spanning IoT, storage solutions, digital home devices, mobile technology, and automotive applications. Virage Logic acquired ARC in 2009, which subsequently became part of Synopsys following Virage Logic’s $315 million acquisition in 2010. This transaction broadened Synopsys’s product range and bolstered its leadership in embedded processor technologies.

Coverity

In February 2014, Synopsys purchased static code analysis firm Coverity for $375 million. Having relied on Coverity’s tools for nearly ten years to improve software security by identifying and resolving code defects before release, this acquisition solidified Synopsys’s capabilities.

In February 2018, Coverity’s open-source Coverity Scan platform was subjected to a cryptocurrency mining breach. Synopsys promptly suspended the service for four weeks and confirmed that neither its corporate network nor user data were compromised.

Codenomicon

Synopsys acquired Finnish cybersecurity software developer Codenomicon in 2015. Prior to this, Codenomicon had purchased Finnish software firm Clarified Networks in 2011.

Cigital

In November 2016, Synopsys enhanced its software integrity offerings by acquiring Cigital along with its spinoff Codiscope from 2015, incorporating their security solutions into its Software Integrity Group.

QuantumWise

Synopsys expanded its design-technology co-optimization portfolio in 2017 by acquiring QuantumWise (previously Atomistix), a company specializing in atomic-scale modeling software for quantum and classical simulations within materials science.

Black Duck Software

Black Duck Software was a privately owned enterprise focused on automating the detection and cataloging of open source code within software applications, emphasizing security vulnerability management and license compliance. It also operated the Open Hub platform. In December 2017, Synopsys acquired Black Duck for $565 million and integrated it into its Software Integrity Group (SIG) until the business was spun off in October 2024.

WhiteHat Security

In April 2022, Synopsys finalized the purchase of WhiteHat Security for $330 million. Established in 2001, WhiteHat delivers application security solutions and analytics specifically designed for DevOps teams.

PikeTec

Synopsys acquired PikeTec in 2023, a firm that specializes in verification and testing tools for automotive software systems.

Intrinsic ID

In March 2024, Synopsys expanded its portfolio by acquiring Intrinsic ID, a company focused on digital authentication and Internet of Things (IoT) security, with the financial terms remaining confidential.

Ansys

Synopsys received approval from the European Commission in January 2025 for its $35 billion acquisition of Ansys, representing a significant regulatory achievement. The UK Competition and Markets Authority conditionally accepted proposed remedies for approval, while the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period concluded. Synopsys continued negotiations with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission regarding conditions as China’s State Administration for Market Regulation approved the merger filing. This acquisition was driven by growing client demand for comprehensive Electronic Design Automation combined with Simulation software solutions. The transaction was officially completed on July 17, 2025.

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