FPT Semiconductor, a subsidiary of FPT Corporation (FPT), has partnered with Silvaco, a US-based leading provider of TCAD, EDA software, and Design Intellectual Property (IP), aiming at fostering workforce and business growth in the semiconductor sector. 

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his delegation, and both companies’ executives. Photo: Duong Giang

The partnership was signed on September 22 during the visit of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to the United States.

This partnership focuses on developing the US semiconductor workforce, capitalizing on FPT Semiconductor and Silvaco's industry expertise and the resources of FPT University – an institution under FPT’s comprehensive education system. Additionally, both sides will jointly establish the Vietnam Learning Semiconductor Hub, aligning with government initiatives to nurture this sector’s talent pool.

Tapping into its partner’s customer base, FPT Semiconductor will provide IP on Silvaco's platform and become the exclusive representative and distributor of Silvaco's semiconductor software solutions in Vietnam. In turn, Silvaco will become a strategic investor of FPT Semiconductor. 

The two companies will also join hands in business development, spanning the areas of StandardCell, IO, and Memory design.

Semiconductor holds a prominent position in FPT’s strategic agenda, as stressed by FPT Chairman Truong Gia Binh during US President Joe Biden’s state visit to Vietnam earlier this September. He advocated collaborative efforts and called for government support from Vietnam and the US to bolster semiconductor workforce development. 

As part of this commitment, FPT University has launched its Semiconductor Circuit Faculty, which will provide comprehensive training for undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students starting in 2024.

In 2022, FPT established its semiconductor subsidiary, making it the first company in Vietnam to manufacture commercial chips, focusing on customized chip design. The company has secured orders for nearly 70 million chips, slated for fulfillment over the next two years.

Over the next five years, FPT has committed to an annual investment of US$100 million in the U.S. market. The company also expects to create an additional 3,000 jobs in this market by 2028 and $1 billion in revenue by 2030.