Gartner Dataquest closes CAD group

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — Gartner Dataquest, the sole research firm that provided extensive market analysis of the EDA industry, is closing its CAD research group, EE Times has learned. The Oct. 31 shutdown of Dataquest's Design and Engineering Group affects five people, including Gary Smith, chief EDA analyst at Gartner Dataquest.

The Design and Engineering Group covers EDA, electronic system level (ESL) design, embedded software, mechanical design, and architectural engineering and construction. Aside from Gary Smith, its members include Daya Nadamuni, Laurie Balch, Sharon Tan, and Nancy Wu.

Smith has been with Gartner Dataquest for 12 years. During this time, he authored numerous reports, including an annual Market Trends survey that provides the EDA industry's most comprehensive market share and revenue forecasts. Smith previously held positions at Signetics, Plessey Semiconductor, and LSI Logic.

Earlier this week, Gartner Dataquest analyst Laurie Balch released a new report that predicts EDA industry growth of 13.3 percent in 2006. In addition to issuing market studies, user "wants and needs" studies, and various reports, members of the Design and Engineering Group also engaged in strategic consulting with a variety of clients, including EDA vendors, startups, and user companies.

As for his current plans, Smith would say only that they're "open." Smith is also involved in strategic planning for the Design Automation Conference, serves on the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) technical working group, and is an organizer of the annual Electronic Design Processes (EDP) workshop.