Synopsys Ansys Acquisition Enables Leading Simulation Enhanced Design

Forbes

3 days ago

Synopsys President and CEO Sassine Ghazi
After a long 18 months of negotiations and regulatory scrutiny, Synopsys has finalized its approximate $35 billion acquisition of Ansys. This acquisition merges two leading companies in their respective markets to create a single, end-to-end engineering, design and simulation platform that spans from silicon to full systems.
Initially announced in January 2024 and finalized on July 17, 2025, the deal combines Synopsys' leadership in electronic design automation (EDA) and semiconductor IP with Ansys' advanced capabilities in multi-physics simulation and analysis. The acquisition was cleared by regulators across the U.S., EU, UK, and China, and unites two complementary portfolios, but also addresses the fundamental need for deeper integration between electronics and physics at every stage of product development — from the transistor level to complete systems.
Simulation Is Paramount In The Design Of Complex System
Synopsys and Ansys have been partnered for a number of years, but the combined entity will allow for much deeper IP sharing and ultimately a unification of their software and tool stacks. By integrating Ansys' multi-physics engines within its EDA toolset, Synopsys can enable concurrent, simulation-driven co-design across silicon, PCB, packaging, and full system-level architecture, to improve outcomes and speed time to market.
This deep, expansive level of integration is particularly critical in areas like chiplet-based design, AI accelerators, 5G infrastructure, and automotive platforms (among others), where the interaction between hardware, software, and environmental conditions determines a product's viability and performance. With digital simulations happening earlier and more often through various design phases, companies can now virtually optimize performance, power, area and reliability before a single chip design is taped out or a first system prototype is built.
Scale And Potential Market Expansion
The combined entity will cater to a significantly larger addressable market — estimated at $31 billion — spanning core EDA, IP, and multi-physics simulation. Financial analysts have responded favorably to the deal, pointing to long-term revenue synergies and improved operational leverage. Several investment firms have upgraded Synopsys' outlook, citing the company's unique position in the industry to address a broader scope of design, simulation and analysis. The move also solidifies Synopsys's competitive position against competitors like Cadence and Siemens EDA.
Synopsys Has Finalized Its Acquisition Of Ansys
Integration Strategy And Customer Engagement
Synopsys has outlined a methodical integration roadmap, aiming to preserve customer experience while also delivering better value. The company reaffirmed support for Ansys' existing customer platform and pledged to maintain product interoperability across both ecosystems. Early integration efforts are focused on embedding multi-physics capabilities into Synopsys' chip design and verification tools, as well as enabling co-simulation for advanced 2.5D and 3D multi-die systems.
In a discussion with Shankar Krishnamoorthy, Chief Product Development Officer at Synopsys, to better understand the impact and goals of the acquisition, I was told that initial joint solutions are expected to roll out sometime in the first half of 2026. These will target critical use cases where electrical, mechanical, and thermal challenges intersect, like heterogeneous integration, power-aware verification, and real-time system-level analysis for mission-critical applications. In the immediate short term, however, the deal allows for deeper IP sharing, which will enable the company and its customers to rethink design processes and flows, to improve final outcomes and speed time-to-market.
While the acquisition makes perfect sense, considering the obvious synergies between the companies, execution will be key. Integrating two engineering-centric cultures and complex product portfolios is never easy. However, Synopsys' history of successful acquisitions and the historic, on-going collaboration and partnership with Ansys bodes well for a smooth transition.
An Expansive Design And Simulation Platform For The AI Era
As devices become more complex and development cycles get even shorter, traditional handoffs between disciplines are no longer sufficient. Synopsys, with Ansys' technology in its portfolio, is now better positioned to deliver simulation-centric design workflows that scale from the transistor level all the way to full system deployment.
Ultimately, this acquisition is about enabling the next generation of intelligent systems — not just faster chips, but smarter, safer, and more efficient products across industries. From edge devices and electric vehicles to aerospace and digital twins, the Synopsys-Ansys combination will provide a unified platform that empowers engineers to simulate the real world as part of the design process, which is key to accelerate time to market with optimal final outcomes, at a time when human engineering resources are slim.