Lip-Bu Tan to be honored with 2025 Phil Kaufman Award

Lip-Bu Tan, Chief Executive Officer of Intel Corp., and former CEO of Cadence Design Systems, will be honored with the 2025 Phil Kaufman Award for distinguished contributions to Electronic System Design (ESD). 

The annual award from the Electronic System Design Alliance (ESD Alliance), a SEMI technology community, and the Council on Electronic Design Automation (CEDA) of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) will be presented at the Phil Kaufman Award presentation and banquet, November 6 in San Jose, California. The organizations are honoring Tan for his leadership and impact on the ESD industry. 

“Lip-Bu Tan has played a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of the semiconductor industry through his visionary leadership and strategic initiatives,” said Alberto Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, the Edgar L. and Harold H. Buttner Chair of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at the University of California at Berkeley and previous Phil Kaufman Award honoree. “His ability to anticipate critical technology trends well ahead of the curve, combined with his deep understanding of the innovation ecosystem, allows him to bridge early-stage innovation with industry-scale impact. Lip-Bu's visionary leadership continues to accelerate the growth of startups, drive collaboration across the value chain, and define the future of semiconductor design and manufacturing.” 

“I have the deepest respect for Lip-Bu Tan, both for his dedicated industry leadership and for our shared belief in the central role semiconductors play in technology innovation and the impact it can have on humanity,” said Ajit Manocha, SEMI President and CEO.

“Lip-Bu truly puts his heart and soul into his work to advance the semiconductor industry, and SEMI congratulates him on being named the Phil Kaufman Award recipient for his efforts throughout his career. He oversaw vital EDA advancements at Cadence that underpinned industry growth and has been an ongoing supporter of SEMI and the ESD Alliance as platforms for industry collaborations to foster innovation.”

Walden Rhines, Chairman former CEO of Mentor Graphics (now Siemens EDA), previous Phil Kaufman Award recipient, and member of the board of numerous electronic design automation (EDA) companies, added: “Lip-Bu has served as a true ambassador for the broader semiconductor and EDA industries.

"Through his active participation in industry forums and his leadership in educational and philanthropic initiatives, he has advanced the visibility and impact of EDA across the tech ecosystem. His support for startups and emerging technologies has helped catalyze innovation across the semiconductor value chain and reinforced the critical role of design automation in driving the industry forward.” 

“As a former ESD Alliance board member, Lip-Bu actively encouraged and supported educational and business activities aimed at advancing the entire EDA ecosystem,” said Bob Smith, Executive Director of the ESD Alliance. “On behalf of the ESD Alliance, I congratulate Lip-Bu on being honored with the well-deserved 2025 Phil Kaufman award.”

L. Miguel Silveira, Full Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Universidade de Lisboa and President of the IEEE Council on EDA added, “Lip-Bu Tan’s dedication to technical leadership, mentorship, and business acumen has made him a key contributor to the advancement of the EDA and semiconductor industries. The IEEE Council on EDA congratulates Lip-Bu on being selected for the 2025 Phil Kaufman Award.”

Lip-Bu Tan is chief executive officer of Intel, and serves on the company’s board of directors. He was appointed to his position in March 2025 and is driving a transformation of Intel to develop a new generation of industry-leading products, deliver new AI systems, and build a trusted, U.S.-based, leading-edge foundry.

Tan is an accomplished executive with more than two decades of semiconductor and software experience and deep relationships across the technology ecosystem. He has received several accolades for his significant contributions to the industry, including the 2022 Robert N. Noyce Award, the Semiconductor Industry Association’s highest honor, and was named one of Forbes’ Top 50 Venture Capitalists.

Tan previously served as chief executive officer of Cadence Design Systems Inc. and was also a member of its board of directors. During his 12 years as Cadence’s chief executive officer, he led a reinvention of the company and drove a cultural transformation centered on customer-centric innovation that enabled Cadence to more than double its revenue, expand operating margins and significantly outperform the market.

Tan is a founding managing partner of Walden Catalyst Ventures and chairman of Walden International, a leading venture capital firm. He has also served on the boards of public companies Credo Technology Group and Schneider Electric.

Tan holds a Bachelor of Science in physics from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, a Master of Science in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MBA from the University of San Francisco. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Science and Technology from Carnegie Mellon University in 2025.

The Phil Kaufman Award honors individuals who have had a demonstrable impact on the field of electronic system design through technology innovations, education/mentoring, or business or industry leadership. The award was established as a tribute to Phil Kaufman, the late industry pioneer who turned innovative technologies into commercial businesses that have benefited electronic designers.