This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Alpinum Consulting
Introduction
On 21st May 2025, the Design and Embedded Systems Network (DESN) organised the “Prototyping Systems Using FPGA” event at Rolls-Royce Control Systems in Birmingham. This event gathered leading industry experts to share insights and discuss the growing significance of FPGA technologies in modern semiconductor design, particularly for accelerating and de-risking ASIC and System-on-Chip (SoC) development.
Key Highlights
The day commenced with insights from Flemming Christensen of Sundance, who detailed multi-FPGA solutions and emphasised their role in early-stage prototyping. Robert Taylor, CEO of Chipflow, showcased rapid FPGA prototyping approaches using Python, specifically tailored for automotive and industrial applications.
Visibility and debugging emerged as critical themes. Frederic Leens from Exostiv Labs stressed the necessity of enhanced visibility in FPGA designs, succinctly stating, “You can’t fix what you don’t see.” Cadence’s Michael O’Sullivan expanded on the strategic use of prototyping and emulation in contemporary semiconductor processes, reflecting the industry’s 2025 trajectory.
FPGA Prototyping: Essential for Today’s Market
Presentations underscored the pivotal role FPGA prototyping plays in modern design validation. Siemens’ Graham Harris and Amr Eldieb demonstrated that their Veloce Pro FPGA CS accelerates hardware and software verification closure, enabling precise, cycle-accurate prototyping that bridges functional design with real-world performance.
Philip Clarke from dSPACE illustrated the application of FPGAs in detailed hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) testing for electric drives, reinforcing FPGAs’ value in rigorous, real-time validation scenarios. Additionally, a Synopsys representative introduced advanced hardware-assisted verification platforms, highlighting FPGAs’ capability to support intensive verification demands efficiently.
Hands-On Experience and Networking
Beyond presentations, attendees engaged directly with FPGA technology through practical demonstrations and a guided tour of Rolls-Royce’s facility. This hands-on experience provided evidence of FPGA’s transformative potential in accelerating design cycles and mitigating project risks.
Alpinum’s FPGA Front Runner: Supporting Industry Leaders
The event reinforced FPGA’s strategic importance, aligning perfectly with Alpinum Consulting’s FPGA Front Runner initiative. FPGA Front Runner delivers targeted consulting services to streamline prototyping processes, enhance verification accuracy, and expedite semiconductor companies’ time-to-market.
Conclusion
Overall, the FPGA event clearly illustrated why FPGA-based prototyping is no longer optional; it’s essential for any serious semiconductor development strategy. Companies seeking to remain competitive and innovative must effectively integrate FPGA solutions, ensuring accelerated design, reduced risk, and successful silicon outcomes.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Alpinum Consulting