SIGDA Awards & Recognition

ACM SIGDA recognizes excellence, leadership, and impact across the EDA community. Through a diverse portfolio of awards, fellowships, and recognition programs, SIGDA honors lifetime technical achievements, outstanding service, early-career excellence, and exceptional student contributions, while also supporting community engagement and knowledge dissemination.

These awards reflect SIGDA’s commitment to advancing research, practice, and education in EDA, and to celebrating individuals who shape the field at every career stage.

ACM/SIGDA Pioneering Achievement Award

The ACM/SIGDA Pioneering Achievement Award honors an individual for lifetime, outstanding contributions within the scope of electronic design automation, as evidenced by pioneering ideas, influential publications, industrial products, and lasting impact on research and practice.

The award includes a plaque, a citation, and a USD 1,000 honorarium funded by the SIGDA annual budget. It is typically presented at the Design Automation Conference (DAC) and recognized again at the SIGDA Member Meeting and Dinner at ICCAD.

SIGDA Service Awards

SIGDA recognizes exceptional service and leadership within the community through two annual service awards.

Distinguished Service Award

The SIGDA Distinguished Service Award is given to individuals who have dedicated many years of their career to extraordinary service in promoting, leading, or creating ACM/SIGDA programs or events. In any given year, up to two Distinguished Service Awards may be presented.

Meritorious Service Award

The SIGDA Meritorious Service Award recognizes individuals who have performed professional service above and beyond traditional expectations in promoting, leading, or creating ACM/SIGDA programs or events. In any given year, up to four Meritorious Service Awards may be presented.

ACM/IEEE A. Richard Newton Technical Impact Award in EDA

The ACM/IEEE A. Richard Newton Technical Impact Award honors an outstanding technical contribution in electronic design automation, as evidenced by a peer-reviewed paper published at least ten years prior to the award presentation.

The award includes a USD 1,500 honorarium to be shared among the authors and a plaque for each author. It is jointly funded by the IEEE Council on Electronic Design Automation and ACM SIGDA and is presented annually at the Design Automation Conference.

Selection is based primarily on the impact of the work on technology, industry, education, and practicing designers and engineers in the EDA field. The award recognizes seminal work in which an original idea was first introduced.

ACM Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation Award in Electronic Design Automation (OPDA)

The ACM Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation Award in Electronic Design Automation recognizes an exceptional doctoral dissertation that makes the most substantial contribution to the theory and or application of electronic design automation.

The award consists of a plaque and a USD 1,000 honorarium and is selected by a committee of experts from academia and industry appointed by ACM in consultation with the SIGDA Chair. The award usually are presented at ICCAD.

SIGDA Outstanding New Faculty Award (ONFA)

The SIGDA Outstanding New Faculty Award recognizes a junior faculty member early in their academic career who demonstrates outstanding potential as an educator and or researcher in electronic design automation. While prior accomplishments are considered, special emphasis is placed on the impact achieved during the initial years of the candidate’s academic appointment. The award includes a USD 1,000 cash prize, a plaque, and a citation, and usually are presented at ICCAD.

SIGDA ACM Fellows and Distinguished ACM Members

SIGDA proudly recognizes members who are elevated to the rank of ACM Fellow or ACM Distinguished Member. These honors acknowledge sustained technical excellence, professional leadership, and service contributions to computing and the electronic design automation community.

SIGDA Distinguished Speaker Program (DSP)

ACM SIGDA offers the opportunity to apply to become an ACM Distinguished Speaker in the technical areas represented by SIGDA. Participation in the Distinguished Speaker Program provides a meaningful way to give back to the community, share expertise broadly, and inspire students and early-career professionals in electronic design automation and computing.

A. Richard Newton Young Student Fellowship

The A. Richard Newton Young Student Fellowship honors the legacy of Dr. A. Richard Newton by encouraging students to pursue careers and graduate studies in electronic design automation. Each year, the program sponsors approximately 60 to 70 students to participate in technical activities at the Design Automation Conference.

Each selected fellow receives full conference registration for DAC, including tutorials, as well as a travel award that may be used to support transportation, lodging, and incidental expenses. Fellows participate in a structured program at DAC that includes a kickoff meeting, technical sessions, educational activities, poster presentations, award sessions, and community engagement throughout the conference week.

Recent Awards