(CFP Photo)

The Ministry of Science and Technology has given the go-ahead to the EDA National Innovation Center led by Southeast University, making it the first such facility in the country.

EDA refers the use of computer-aided design to develop, manufacture and package complex electronic systems like printed circuit boards, integrated circuits and microprocessors. It integrates technologies such as microelectronics, computational mathematics, graphics and artificial intelligence.

The center, to be located in Nanjing’s Jiangbei New Area, will bring together resources from leading enterprises in the EDA industry, and universities including Peking University, Xidian University.

The Nanjing-based public research university listed EDA as one of the "Top 10 Scientific Issues" in 2018 and has been making use of its advantages in IC, information technology, computer science and mathematics to make breakthrough. It has established three labs in partnership with domestic EDA companies and promoted research in fields including MEMS design and electromagnetic simulation. The university has also strengthened efforts of talent training to support the sector's development.