ic-design Reinhard Gottinger

What ic-design Reinhard Gottinger does

ic-design Reinhard Gottinger GmbH is a privately held, founder-led German engineering services company headquartered in Passau that delivers custom integrated circuit (IC) design as an external service provider. Founded more than 25 years ago and managed by Reinhard Gottinger, the firm operates across four service lines: FPGA design (across Xilinx, Lattice, and Microsemi/Microchip devices), implementation and verification of digital modules for system-on-chips (SoCs) in VHDL/VERILOG, full development of low-to-medium-complexity application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) including mixed mode gate arrays, and FPGA-based embedded systems and electronic devices spanning schematic, PCB layout, software, and test.

Its underlying technology stack centers on field-programmable gate arrays, digital SoC module design with formal and simulation-based verification, and ASIC development at low non-recurring engineering cost, including a proprietary MD500-NFC mixed mode gate array in 0.9 µm CMOS that implements active load modulation for miniaturized NFC cards. Notable design examples include a 45 ms NFC antenna measurement computer (NFCMEAS) on Xilinx ZYNQ with Linux/Qt, a four-lane PCI Express 2.0 frame-grabber on Xilinx ARTIX-7, radiation-tolerant Microsemi RTAX electronics for satellites, Lattice ECP-based DSP for metal detectors, and a 90 nm CMOS graphic controller for BMW automotive dashboards.

The business model is project-based B2B professional services: customers engage the firm directly for custom FPGA, ASIC, SoC module, or embedded device projects, with pricing tailored to scope and complexity. Revenue derives from design contracts with semiconductor manufacturers, electronics OEMs, and industrial clients (including a European NFC card leader, a Japanese semiconductor manufacturer, and an American semiconductor manufacturer). The company has no external institutional investors, no subsidiaries, no public revenue disclosure, and is horizontally segmented across consumer, telecom, computer, automotive, and measurement verticals.

Name

ic-design Reinhard Gottinger

Legal name

ic-design Reinhard Gottinger GmbH

Website

https://ic-design.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ic-design Reinhard Gottinger GmbH is a founder-led, private German engineering services firm in Passau that designs custom integrated circuits—FPGAs, ASICs, SoC digital modules, and FPGA-based embedded devices—for semiconductor manufacturers, electronics OEMs, and industrial clients across automotive, NFC, aerospace, and measurement verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Semiconductor Design Services

NAICS

Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (3344), Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413)

SIC

Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674), Electronic Components, Nec (3679)

akta.pro primary industry

Design Services & ASIC/SoC Implementation (EDA-Adjacent) (HDAHAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Audio, Imaging & Multimedia SoCs (ISP/Codec/Display) (HDAHABAH), IP Enablement, Characterization & Porting Services (HDAHAFAI), Compute & Acceleration ICs (CPU/GPU/AI/FPGA/ASIC) (HDAHABAC)

Keywords

• Integrated circuit design
• FPGA design services
• ASIC development
• SoC digital modules
• Embedded systems design

Headquarters

HQ city

Passau

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. IC Design Engineering Services: External engineering service provider developing FPGAs, ASICs, and digital modules for SoCs for customers. Revenue generated through project-based design contracts for semiconductor manufacturers, electronics companies, and industrial clients. Services include circuit design, verification, and complete product development from concept to tested devices.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

ic-design Reinhard Gottinger GmbH is an external engineering services provider that designs integrated circuits for external customers, including FPGAs (using Xilinx, Lattice, and Microsemi/Microchip devices), digital modules for system-on-chips (SoCs) developed in VHDL or VERILOG, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) at low non-recurring engineering costs for low- to medium-complexity designs, and complete FPGA-based embedded systems and electronic devices from specification through schematics, PCB layout, assembly, and testing. The firm has delivered more than 10 SoCs with digital modules of several 100K gate complexities and serves semiconductor manufacturers, electronics OEMs, and industrial clients in consumer electronics, telecommunications, computer technology, automotive, and measurement sectors.

Product overview

ic-design Reinhard Gottinger GmbH is an external service provider with over 25 years of experience developing integrated circuits. The company operates four core product lines: (1) FPGA Design Services utilizing Xilinx, Lattice, and Microsemi technologies for digital circuits and embedded systems; (2) Digital Modules for SoCs involving implementation and verification of VHDL/VERILOG modules with verification using SpecMan 'e', SystemVerilog, and FPGA emulators; (3) ASIC Design Services encompassing full development of application-specific integrated circuits including mixed mode gate arrays with analog/digital integration; and (4) FPGA-based Electronic Devices delivering complete embedded systems with software, PCB design, and testing. The portfolio includes design examples such as the NFCMEAS measuring computer, USB 2.0 converters, PCI-Express interfaces, metal-detector DSP systems, automotive graphic controllers, camera interfaces, and the MD500-NFC mixed mode gate array for active NFC.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FPGA Design Services
• Digital Modules for SoCs Implementation and verification of digital modules for system-on-chips (SoCs) in VHDL or VERILOG, verified using simulators, SpecMan 'e', SystemVerilog, formal methods, and FPGA-based emulators, for semiconductor and electronics customers integrating modules into larger SoC projects.
• ASIC Design Services Full-cycle development of application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) at low non-recurring engineering costs for low- to medium-complexity applications, including mixed mode gate arrays that integrate analog and digital components, for semiconductor and industrial customers.
• FPGA-based Embedded Systems and Electronic Devices Complete development of FPGA-based embedded systems and electronic devices for external customers, including embedded processor software, schematic circuit diagrams, PCB layout, enclosure and display selection, assembly, and testing.

Quantifiable outcome

• NFC antenna characterization in 45 ms
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• ICsense: Belgian mixed-signal and analog IC design house offering ASIC/IC design services across the full development flow. Highly comparable to ic-design in being a Europe-based, services-only firm focused on low-to-medium complexity custom IC design for external customers.
• Mixel: US mixed-signal semiconductor IP and design services company. Comparable in providing custom IC design and IP services for SoC/ASIC integrators, with similar low-to-medium complexity positioning and fabless business model.
• DCD-SEMI: Polish ASIC/FPGA design services and IP provider delivering digital design, verification, and physical implementation. Closely comparable European boutique model — services-led, multi-vendor FPGA expertise, and project-based engagement for industrial and semiconductor clients.
• Chipus Microelectronics: Brazilian fabless company providing analog and mixed-signal IC design services and IP. Comparable services-led model targeting customers needing custom ASIC/SoC design expertise across consumer, industrial, and IoT segments.
• Cactus Semiconductor: US mixed-signal and analog IC design services firm offering full-custom ASIC development from specification through silicon. Direct peer in operating as a small, specialized external design house serving customers needing custom silicon without in-house teams.
• SaberTek: US-based IC design services firm specializing in RF, analog, and mixed-signal ASIC/SoC implementations. Comparable in offering project-based external design services rather than selling its own silicon, targeting similar fabless and OEM customers.

Broad incumbents

• Cadence Design Systems (Design Services): Major EDA vendor with a substantial design services business delivering custom IC, FPGA, and SoC design across process nodes. Overlaps with ic-design's FPGA and digital module implementation services but at enterprise scale and bundled with Cadence tool flow.
• GlobalFoundries Design Services: Large foundry offering ASIC and design enablement services as part of customer engagement. Comparable in delivering custom IC design services to external customers, but with the strategic advantage of an in-house foundry relationship and broad process portfolio.
• Synopsys (Design Services): Global EDA leader whose professional services arm offers full-custom ASIC and SoC design services. Comparable offering at vastly larger scale, including advanced-node design, IP integration, and turnkey programs — a ceiling competitor for any large engagement ic-design might chase.

Others

• Northwest Logic (now part of Synopsys): Previously a small US design services and IP house specializing in interface IP and custom design, ultimately acquired by Synopsys. Illustrative of the exit/scale trajectory a boutique design house might pursue, and adjacent in selling custom SoC/ASIC design services and IP.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ic-design Reinhard Gottinger