Synopsys Acquires Ansys: Implications for Engineering Simulation and Atomistic Modeling

Abstract

The completion of Synopsys’s acquisition of Ansys in 2025 represents one of the most significant developments in the area of engineering simulation and design software. Beyond its industrial and financial dimensions, this merger signals a deeper integration of atomistic, device-level, and system-level modeling approaches. In this article, the broader implications of the Synopsys-Ansys union are discussed with a particular focus on atomistic modeling and first-principles simulations. The analysis is placed in a historical context by revisiting Synopsys’s earlier acquisition of QuantumWise and the subsequent development of QuantumATK as a bridge between quantum-mechanical materials modeling and semiconductor technology design. The article discusses how the growing integration of electronic design automation, multiphysics simulation, and atomistic modeling represents a fundamental shift in modern engineering practice. As these approaches increasingly merge, traditional disciplinary boundaries between physics, chemistry, materials science, and engineering become less distinct, and atomistic simulations emerge as a key element of industrial research, technology development, and interdisciplinary workflows.