The Ministry of Industry and Trade is looking for a contractor to create a key tool in microchip production – a computer-aided design (CAD) system that will prepare photomasks for the 90 nm process technology and above. 943 million rubles are ready to be allocated for the project.
The tender was announced on April 28, 2026, and the work is planned to be completed by November 1, 2028.
This is a critically important part of the entire chain. Without such software, it is impossible to transform a digital chip design into real photomasks, which are then used to manufacture microchips.
Until 2022, this stage in Russia was covered by foreign solutions – primarily Cadence and Synopsys. After the sanctions, access to them became limited, and now the task is being addressed through domestic developments.
The future system is expected to have basic capabilities: topology loading and verification, visual control, sketch generation, and photomask assembly. At the same time, the software must operate completely autonomously – without an internet connection.
A separate requirement is compatibility with equipment. The program is planned to be adapted for Belarusian laser photomask generators – from EM-5189/5289 series to more complex DUV systems and installations with spatial light modulation. In fact, this is an attempt to assemble a closed technological chain without external dependencies.
The project fits into a larger strategy. Back in 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Trade presented a roadmap for CAD development until 2030 with a budget of 54.6 billion rubles.
By this deadline, about 100 CAD platforms are planned to be created, and sales of such software could reach 2.6 thousand units. Total revenue is estimated at 7.2 billion rubles, of which half will come from microchip design solutions.
The next stage involves more complex technologies. After 2030, the plan is to transition to developing CAD for chips using the 28 nm process technology.
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