Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) has announced that its IC Design Centre (ICDC) and Intellectual Property Servicing Centre (IPSC), have passed the ISO 27001 certification audit for Information Security Management Systems, by the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA).
This endorsement of the strong information management systems security will boost HKSTP’s role in IC design and IP servicing in Hong Kong and the region supported by Hong Kong’s sound legal protection regime for intellectual property.
ISO 27001 certification at ICDC and IPSC reassures start-ups and multinational companies that their intellectual property and proprietary information will be secured by measures in accordance with the highest international standards complemented by a legal framework. At the same time ISO 27001 certification provides semiconductor design companies using ICDC and IPSC services with safeguards for their intellectual property and related information. This strong value-added protection would boost their confidence in utilising these HKSTP services.
Opened in June 2003, the ICDC assists startup IC companies throughout the entire product design cycle. It is the only publicly-funded centre in the world which can provide cost-effective access in a highly secured Date Centre for a wide range of EDA tools from world leading suppliers such as Cadence, Synopsys and Mentor Graphics. Other key equipment suppliers include Magma, HED, Agilent, CoWare and more. Supported by an experienced team of engineers, the ICDC is a key IC incubation base working within China’s Ministry of Science and Technology “seven plus one” IC design scheme, providing a design and development platform and services to IC clients from within China and around the globe.
Commencing operations in 2006, the IPSC offers IP licensing, IP hardening, IP integration and IP verification services to reduce design cycle time, shortening time to market while enhancing productivity. The IP hardening and IP integration services generate hard cores (GDSII format) from soft cores (RTL format) and associated simulation models. In addition, the sound legal framework that HKSTP provides for semiconductor IP development minimising risk in fabrication as well as in legal liability has led to some of the world’s leading semiconductor vendors to partner with the ICDC and the IPSC. Compliance with ISO 27001 information security standards will continue to inspire confidence among present and potential partners. The IPSC also assists in developing the Greater China IP Trading Centre for promoting domestic semiconductor IP, in particular the Greater China Region, to the world.
HKSTP’s Technology Support Centre has been operating under the ISO 9000 quality management and international occupational health and safety standards since April 2004. With this recent achievement of ISO 27001 compliance, Mr. Cheung also mentioned plans to advance to OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14001 certification. “Achieving these internationally recognised health, safety and environmental standards will further improve the overall performance of our technology support centres, while further ensuring that every professional here is made fully aware of their scope of responsibilities and the importance of service quality.”
Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
