YEREVAN, Armenia, October 27, 2010 -- Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS), a world leader in software and IP for semiconductor design, verification and manufacturing, today announced that 68 master’s degree and 54 bachelor’s degree students from Synopsys’ Armenia Educational Department (SAED) have successfully completed the Synopsys educational program and now stand ready to begin professional engineering careers. When the Armenian government declared high-tech industry a flagship of the national economy, making high-quality engineering education available to Armenian students became a top priority. To help achieve this goal, Synopsys established advanced educational programs in microelectronics design with the State Engineering University of Armenia (SEUA) in 2004, with Yerevan State University (YSU) in 2005, and with Russian-Armenian Slavonic (State) University (RAU) in 2007.

During the commencement ceremony recognizing the achievement of the graduates, Dr. Chi-Foon Chan, president and chief operating officer at Synopsys, conferred Synopsys Certificates of Achievement to each graduate. The Rectors of SEUA and YSU conferred diplomas for their universities. 21 RAU graduates were conferred with Synopsys Certificates of Recognition for their proficient use of Synopsys software tools.

Based on a proven educational model of university-industry cooperation, SAED trains students to become highly qualified in the field of very large scale integration (VLSI) design and electronic design automation (EDA), making them well-equipped to meet the highest international engineering standards. To provide the students with a world-class education, SAED offers all the necessary components of the educational process: a comprehensive curriculum adopted by several prestigious universities in countries worldwide; Synopsys’ state-of-the-art, industry-leading electronic design automation software and Educational Design Kits; highly qualified and experienced faculty; and a modern technical infrastructure and environment.

In the first years of the bachelor’s degree program, students obtain a basic education in mathematics, physics and other scientific disciplines at their chosen university. The top-performing students are then selected by Synopsys technical experts and professors for enrollment in the SAED program. Further education in the bachelor’s program, master’s program and Ph.D. studies is obtained through a customized SAED curriculum for VLSI design and EDA. Studies are conducted in specially equipped classrooms donated by Synopsys where SAED students have access to the latest EDA software tools in use in industry. Teaching, supervision of course projects, master’s theses and Ph.D. dissertations are targeted toward actual design projects at Synopsys Armenia. Projects are completed in conjunction with leading professionals from Synopsys and professors from the corresponding university. Upon successful completion of the SAED program, graduates are industry-ready specialists and qualified to work for Synopsys Armenia as well as other high-tech companies. This source of engineers is proving to be an important factor in the development of an EDA industrial cluster in Armenia.

“We continuously support and heavily invest in the education program in Armenia to educate future engineers for Armenia’s growing high-tech industry. During the last six years, we have provided the Armenian microelectronic industry with more than 500 highly qualified and industry-ready engineering graduates,” said Dr. Chan. “The vast majority of them are now employed by Synopsys Armenia or by other local high-tech companies, and they are making valuable contributions to Armenia’s microelectronic design industry.”

“Throughout the region, countries looking to develop their high tech economies have identified technical education as a key ingredient. With the help of our university program, Armenia is well ahead in this area, providing Armenia with a competitive advantage. Other countries are now just beginning to emulate the Armenia model,” said Rich Goldman, chief executive officer of Synopsys Armenia CJSC, and vice president of corporate marketing and strategic alliances at Synopsys. “I am proud to be associated with our university students. Even as students they are contributors to our success, and I wish them the best as they enter the workforce.”

“Semiconductor technology advances at such a rapid pace that no university in the world should be expected to keep current, but our unique industry/university partnership guarantees that our students receive an education that stays on the leading edge. As a result of our constantly updated curricula and the dedicated efforts of our professors, we are yet again recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of another class of highly-skilled graduates who have met the requirements of the company and Armenia’s IT,” said Sc.D., Professor Vazgen Melikyan, director of the Synopsys Armenia educational department and honorable scientist of RA.

In her valedictory speech today, Tamara Petrosyan, a 2010 master’s degree program graduate and a current employee of Synopsys Armenia, said “On behalf of all the graduates, I would like to express our deep gratitude to the professors who shared their knowledge and experience with us, and to both SEUA and Synopsys Armenia management for their contributions to our development and achievements. Their efforts toward providing us with the best education possible have been invaluable.” 

About Synopsys Armenia CJSC and Synopsys, Inc.

Synopsys, Inc. is a world leader in electronic design automation (EDA), supplying the global electronics market with a comprehensive, integrated portfolio of software, intellectual property (IP) and services used in semiconductor design, verification and manufacturing. Synopsys established its presence in Armenia in 2004, after Armenia declared information technology (IT) as a priority business for the country. Since then, Synopsys Armenia closed joint stock company (CJSC) has become an important Synopsys site, providing R&D and product support in EDA, design for manufacturing (DFM) and the development of semiconductor intellectual property (IP). The company employs several hundred qualified Armenian engineers and is one of largest IT employers in Armenia. To help provide Armenia with highly qualified IT specialists, Synopsys Armenia invests locally in IT education and is engaged in a number of successful cooperation programs with major Armenian universities such as Yerevan State University (YSU), State Engineering University of Armenia (SEUA), American University of Armenia (AUA), Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) State University, and the Moscow Institute of Electronic Technologies (MIET). The company consistently promotes public interest in the high tech industry by sponsoring Presidential Awards for the best students in IT and contests among young specialists and students, and engages the broader community through charity work and volunteer activities. Synopsys Armenia CJSC is located in Yerevan. Synopsys, Inc. is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and has approximately 70 offices located throughout North America, Europe, Japan, Asia and India. Visit Synopsys, Inc. and Synopsys Armenia online at http://www.synopsys.com and http://www.synopsys.am.

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Synopsys is a registered trademark of Synopsys, Inc. Any other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned in this release are the intellectual property of their respective owners.

Editorial Contact:

Gayane Markosyan

Synopsys Armenia CJSC

(374 10) 492-356

(374 91) 292-302

gayanem@synopsys.com