Core Insights - The ICCAD-Expo 2025 was successfully held in Chengdu, focusing on the theme "Open Innovation, Achieving the Future," featuring a series of activities including a summit forum, specialized forums, and an industry exhibition [2][4]. Event Overview - The event attracted over 2,000 domestic and international integrated circuit companies, with more than 6,300 guests including industry leaders and experts [2]. - The forum structure included 1 summit forum, 10 specialized forums, and 1 industry exhibition, creating a high-end communication platform for the integrated circuit industry [2]. Industry Insights - Professor Wei Shaojun presented a report indicating that the sales revenue of the entire industry is expected to reach 835.73 billion yuan by 2025, with a year-on-year growth rate of 29.4%, signaling a strong recovery [6]. - The report highlighted that the industry scale could exceed 1 trillion yuan by 2030, with Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing leading in sales revenue [6]. Structural Challenges - The integrated circuit design industry faces structural challenges characterized by a "small, scattered, and weak" structure, with a product mix skewed towards low-end products [7]. - Communication and consumer electronics chips account for nearly two-thirds of sales, while computer chips only represent 7.7% of the market, significantly lower than the global average of about 25% [7]. Future Directions - The report emphasized the need for differentiated competition and avoiding homogenization to ensure sustainable industry development [7]. - The industry must focus on strengthening core technology and product competitiveness through systematic innovation to build a fully autonomous and reliable Chinese chip industry [7]. Forum Highlights - The summit forum featured 23 industry leaders discussing global trends, industry chain collaboration, and ecological construction in the integrated circuit sector [9]. - Topics included EDA and IP innovation, heterogeneous computing, DPU data center transformation, and AI integration, showcasing the technological forefront of the industry [9]. Specialized Forums - Ten specialized forums were held, with nearly 200 industry elites sharing insights on EDA innovation, automotive-grade chips, and generative AI [12]. Exhibition Overview - The exhibition showcased the entire integrated circuit industry chain, covering key areas such as IP licensing, EDA tools, and wafer manufacturing, with over 300 top semiconductor companies participating [14]. - The exhibition spanned 20,000 square meters and highlighted the strong gathering effect of the Chengdu-Chongqing region's integrated circuit industry [14]. Future Events - The next ICCAD-Expo 2026 will be held in Beijing, marking a continuation of the event's success and its role in promoting innovation and competitiveness in the integrated circuit industry [16].

Core Viewpoint - The Chinese chip design industry is experiencing a significant growth resurgence, with a projected sales increase of 29.4% in 2025 compared to 2024, reaching approximately 835.73 billion RMB (about 118.04 billion USD) [6][20][23]. Summary by Sections Overall Development of the Chip Design Industry - The number of chip design companies is expected to grow from 3,626 in 2024 to 3,901 in 2025, indicating a steady increase in industry participation [3][16]. - The average annual compound growth rate of the chip design industry from 2006 to 2025 is estimated at 19.6%, showcasing its resilience and growth potential [20]. Sales and Market Analysis - The total sales for the chip design industry in 2025 is projected to be 835.73 billion RMB, with a significant increase in market share compared to previous years [6][20]. - The top ten design companies are expected to achieve a combined sales total of 249.93 billion RMB, representing 29.9% of the total industry sales, with a growth rate of 41.8% [22][23]. Regional Development - The Yangtze River Delta region is projected to generate sales of 2,300 billion RMB in 2025, marking a 28.1% increase from 2024 [6][7]. - Cities like Wuhan, Chengdu, and Fuzhou are leading in growth rates, with Wuhan expected to grow by 94.3% and Chengdu by 73.8% [7][20]. Company Size and Employment - In 2025, 831 companies are expected to exceed 100 million RMB in sales, an increase of 100 companies from 2024, indicating a trend towards larger, more successful firms [9][10]. - The workforce in the chip design industry is also expanding, with 39 companies employing over 1,000 people, reflecting a growing demand for skilled labor [16][30]. Product and Market Challenges - The industry remains heavily focused on low to mid-end products, with communication and consumer electronics chips accounting for 66.48% of total sales, while computer chips only represent 7.7% [17][24]. - High operational costs and market competition pose significant challenges, necessitating improvements in productivity and product competitiveness [24][31]. Future Outlook - The chip design industry is expected to continue its upward trajectory, with potential sales reaching or exceeding 1 trillion RMB by 2030, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence and electric vehicles [20][22]. - The industry must address issues of fragmentation and low concentration, as the majority of companies remain small and scattered, which could hinder long-term growth [21][23].