Siemens expands Saskatoon EDA R&D hub to meet rising global demand for AI chip design
This past month, Siemens announced the expansion of the Saskatoon electronic design automation (EDA) research and development hub, with plans to scale up the workforce by up to 100 people and extend the physical footprint over the next two years. The announcement brought together figures from government, universities and the technology sector and represented a major step forward for an operation that traces its roots to a local entrepreneurial venture.
The expanded facility at Innovation Saskatchewan’s Research and Technology Park, situated next to the University of Saskatchewan, will grow to roughly 45,000 square feet, taking the local team from roughly 300 to around 400 people in total.
What does Siemens do in Saskatoon?
The Saskatoon office is part of Siemens’ Digital Industries Software and specializes in EDA software, tools that allow engineering teams to simulate and verify a semiconductor design in a digital environment, before any physical manufacturing takes place. This approach helps avoid expensive manufacturing mistakes and compresses the overall development cycle.
Amit Gupta, senior vice president, general manager and chief AI strategy officer at Siemens EDA, described this work as central to how the global technology industry functions: “The advanced AI software developed in Saskatoon helps customers tackle the most demanding chip design challenges.” He noted that much of the silicon found in consumer devices, from phones and laptops to large data centre infrastructure, relies on tools engineered in Saskatoon.
From 50 employees to a strategic center of excellence
The Siemens Saskatoon office traces its origins to Solido Design Automation, founded by Amit Gupta in 2005. When Siemens completed its acquisition of Solido in 2017, the headcount stood at around 50. Since then, that figure has climbed significantly.
Faisal Kazi, president and CEO of Siemens Canada, described the site as having evolved from an entrepreneurial beginning into a strategically important centre that serves a global customer base.
AI is driving a trillion-dollar chip boom
The timing of this expansion reflects accelerating growth across the semiconductor industry. At the event held to mark the announcement, Gupta noted that the global semiconductor market has already surpassed the $700 billion threshold, with the market well on its way to hitting the trillion dollar-mark this year.
As the complexity of chip architectures increases, particularly those designed to handle AI workloads, EDA software becomes more critical in helping engineering teams navigate trade-offs around performance, scale and power consumption.
Keeping talent in Saskatchewan
New hires are expected to work across software development, AI-focused research and customer-facing technical roles. The University of Saskatchewan will be a primary talent pipeline, targeting graduates from computer science, electrical and computer engineering, physics and mathematics. Gupta noted that around four in five of new hires come directly from the University of Saskatchewan.
Province welcomes the investment
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe welcomed the announcement, describing it as a further sign of the province’s growing reputation in global technology and innovation. He added that by partnering with world-class educational institutions and leveraging the region’s skilled workforce, Siemens is helping to drive economic growth and ensure Saskatchewan remains globally competitive.
Read the press release for the full story on how Saskatoon is shaping the world’s most advanced chips.
