Silvaco Expands Partnership with APEC on Silicon Carbide Power Device Development

Why It Matters

Accelerated SiC device development shortens product cycles, giving APEC a competitive edge in high‑growth power markets. The move highlights how sophisticated simulation tools are becoming essential for semiconductor innovation.

Key Takeaways

• Silvaco expands tools for APEC’s SiC device design.
• APEC adopts Victory Device, Gateway, SmartSpice simulation suite.
• Partnership aims to shorten SiC power device time‑to‑market.
• Enhanced DTCO improves performance, reliability, efficiency of devices.
• Market impact spans automotive, industrial, renewable, consumer sectors.

Pulse Analysis

The silicon‑carbide power semiconductor market is experiencing a surge driven by stricter efficiency standards and the electrification of transportation. SiC devices offer higher voltage operation, lower losses, and superior thermal performance compared to traditional silicon, but their design complexity demands precise modeling of material behavior, electric fields, and thermal dynamics. Companies that can streamline this intricate development process gain a decisive advantage, especially as automotive manufacturers and renewable‑energy firms scale up their demand for robust power converters.

Silvaco’s Victory Device platform provides physics‑based process and device simulation, while Gateway bridges TCAD outputs directly into circuit‑level analysis. SmartSpice adds rapid, accurate SPICE‑type simulations for full‑system verification. By deploying this integrated suite, APEC can perform design‑technology co‑optimization (DTCO), iterating between device geometry, doping profiles, and circuit performance in a single workflow. The result is a faster convergence on optimal designs, reduced prototype iterations, and a clearer path to meeting reliability targets required for automotive and industrial applications.

For the broader industry, the partnership signals a shift toward tighter collaboration between EDA vendors and silicon‑carbide manufacturers. As more players adopt advanced simulation ecosystems, the barrier to entry for new SiC products lowers, potentially accelerating innovation cycles and driving down costs. This could intensify competition among power‑device suppliers while expanding the overall market size, benefitting downstream OEMs seeking efficient, compact power solutions. Silvaco’s deeper involvement with APEC positions both firms to capture a larger share of the growing SiC landscape.