Frequently Asked Questions

 

1. What is Arm Flexible Access?

Arm Flexible Access Arm Flexible Access provides up-front, no-cost or low-cost access to a wide range of Arm IP, support, tools, and training. Experiment and design with the entire portfolio; license fees, if any, are only due at the point of manufacture and calculated only on the IP included in the final SoC design.

There are three tiers of Flexible Access – Standard, Entry and DesignStart.

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2. Who can use Arm Flexible Access?

Any company that is doing silicon design or implementation can use Flexible Access. Example partners include fabless semiconductor companies, silicon startups, IP providers, tape-out service provider, Design Houses, and OEMs with an in-house silicon team.

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3. What type of startups qualify for Arm Flexible Access for Startups ?

Arm Flexible Access for Startups helps early-stage startups who are developing a silicon product and have less than $20 million in funding. Startups with more than $20 million in funding can still benefit from Flexible Access. Apply here to find out more.

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4. Why design with Arm Flexible Access?

 

Arm Flexible Access provides partners unlimited access to download and then design with a wide range of industry-leading Arm IP products. Depending on the tier, Flexible Access also includes full access to Arm support, along with development and design tools, models, and training. Partners can evaluate different IP options and design multiple SoC projects, with license fees (if any) for included IP only due at manufacture time – aligning investment more closely to project lifecycles.

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5. What IP is included?

The Standard and Entry Tiers offers access to more than 80 CPU, GPU, and system IP products. The DesignStart Tier offers access to a select mix of processors and system IP.

All tiers include access to thousands of Artisan physical IP products supporting multiple foundries and process nodes for design implementation. All tiers also include Corstone reference packages, which brings together pre-verified subsystems and supporting System IP to simplify silicon designs and reduce development risk.

Download the Arm Flexible Access data sheet to get the complete list of IP, tools, and models, offered in each tier.

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6. What IP and tools are included in the Arm Flexible Access for Startups program?

Everything in the Entry Tier of Flexible Access. For a full list of IP, supporting tools and models, refer to the Arm Flexible Access data sheet.

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7. What are the costs for Arm Flexible Access, and how are they calculated?

The Standard and Entry tiers of Flexible Access have an annual access fee. The DesignStart Tier has no annual access fee.

Refer to Arm Flexible Access data sheet for details.

When a design is ready for manufacture, licensing fees (if any) will become due for IP included in the design. Royalties (if any are due) are calculated based on a simplified model for units shipped. All of the Artisan Physical IP products included in the DesignStart Tier are free of charge – no license fee, no royalties.

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8. I don't need access to the Arm CPU IP at this time, but I need Arm Artisan physical IP. Do I have to pay for access?

No, you don’t need to pay fees; the DesignStart Tier offers no-cost access, design and manufacture rights to both front-end and back-end views of Artisan physical IP. In addition, the DesignStart Tier offers fast access to front-end views for evaluation.

 

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9. How does Arm Flexible Access affect my existing IP entitlements?

Arm Flexible Access does not change your existing IP entitlements. You can use existing IP entitlements alongside Arm Flexible Access in a single design. Contact your Arm Partner Manager for specific details.

 

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10. How do I access the IP, tools, or support available through Arm Flexible Access?

Access to the Arm download portal, Product Download Hub (PDH), is made available to your company when you sign up to Arm Flexible Access. PDH will display all products to which you have access to, those to which you can request access, and will enable downloads.

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11. If there are license fees, how do I pay these fees once my design is ready for tape-out?

Complete a simple form to register your project ready for production and submit it to your Arm Partner manager.

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12. Will Arm add any new IP to Flexible Access?

Yes. The package is reviewed every quarter.