FPGA/SoC Development Services
ADVANS Group supports you in the development of digital systems on FPGA/SoC, from rapid prototyping to production, including the development of complex IPs. Our teams are involved across the entire development cycle, delivering tailored solutions backed by proven expertise.
On this page:FPGA/SoC Engineering
Challenging projects, tailored solutions
As specialists in FPGA/SoC and IP development services, we cover the full spectrum of FPGA technologies: AMD, Altera, Microchip, NanoXplore, and Lattice. We implement SoC architectures based on hard cores (ARM) or soft cores (RISC‑V, Nios, MicroBlaze). We develop both IPs (interfaces, processing, interconnect) and complete FPGA designs.
Our expertise spans a wide range of applications, including telecommunications, space, defense, automotive, industrial systems, and medical devices.
Your vision, our expertise: delivering electronic solutions of excellence
Why choose ADVANS Group for your FPGA/SoC development project?
Designing on FPGA/SoC or developing an IP is both a technical and strategic challenge: it requires expertise, discipline, flexibility, and full mastery of HDL tools and languages.
At ADVANS Group, we support you effectively, whatever your challenges — performance, power consumption, cost, reliability, or time-to-market.
Do you have a specific need or a project to launch? Let’s discuss it today.
Expertise
We develop FPGA/SoC solutions for leading players in embedded electronics, serving sectors such as aerospace, space, defense, nuclear, healthcare, and more.
Design centers
From our network of design centers in Europe, we manage your projects with close technical and operational proximity.
Technical partnerships
We are partners with AMD and Altera and collaborate with a network of distributors, giving us access to the latest technologies, dedicated support, as well as FPGA and IP COTS tools, evaluation boards, and components under competitive commercial conditions.
Engagement models
We offer flexible engagement models tailored to your needs: consulting and expertise, competence centers, service centers, and fixed-price projects.
Customized solutions
We design, with you or for you, FPGA and SoC solutions perfectly aligned with your constraints in terms of performance, cost, reliability, and time-to-market.
To accelerate development, we can leverage our IP portfolio as well as our virtual verification and physical validation frameworks.
Quality and Confidentiality
Our commitment to quality and confidentiality is reflected in a management system compliant with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 27001 standards (for more details, see About > Certifications page).
For FPGA/SoC development projects, we apply either our customers’ quality framework or our own, depending on project requirements.
Engagement models tailored to your technical and business challenges
Expertise, flexibility, and innovation
We offer a range of engagement models to meet our customers’ needs.
Depending on the project scope and execution framework, FPGA/SoC development projects may be eligible for the French Research Tax Credit (CIR) or Innovation Tax Credit (CII). These schemes can provide tax incentives for R&D and technological innovation activities.
For any request, feel free to contact us.
Consulting
Our technical experts and consultants are involved in high value-added assignments. Resources are managed by our business managers, while you remain responsible for delivery and project management.
Competence Center
We set up a dedicated team of engineers. Resources are managed by our business managers, while you remain responsible for delivery and project management.
Service Center
As part of a service center, in addition to setting up and managing a team of specialized engineers, we take responsibility for delivery as well as for meeting cost, quality, and schedule objectives. We commit to results on activities defined in a catalog of units of work.
Fixed-Price Project
Based on a set of specifications, we deliver the project in compliance with our cost, quality, and schedule commitments. Our design offices handle all phases of execution across a wide range of projects, from single-discipline developments to cross-functional initiatives involving numerous technological interactions.
Strategic alliances for cutting-edge solutions
Technology partner ecosystem
We have established partnerships with market-leading companies.
The result is easier access to their latest innovations, advanced training for our engineers, and increased efficiency for our customers’ projects.
Altera ASAP Program Partner
A partnership focused on FPGA and SoC solutions within the ASAP (Altera Solution Acceleration Partner Program). This partnership validates our experience and expertise on Altera FPGA platforms.
AMD Adaptive Computing Partner
A partnership focused on FPGA and SoC solutions based on former Xilinx products (Xilinx Alliance Program). This partnership validates our experience and expertise on AMD FPGA platforms. We can also certify our engineers on AMD technologies.
Arm Approved Design Partner
We provide Arm customers with integrated circuit design services (IP, ASIC, SoC, FPGA) for Arm cores, including dedicated and cost-optimized solutions.
Cadence Connections Verification Alliance
With many years of experience in reusable VIPs, we help accelerate the adoption of new technologies and improve the productivity of verification teams.
Microchip Approved Design Partner
A partnership focused on FPGA and SoC solutions based on former Actel and Atmel products. This partnership validates our experience and expertise on Microchip FPGA platforms.
STMicroelectronics Authorized Partner
As an STMicroelectronics Authorized Partner, we accelerate STM32 developments (edge AI, IoT, low power) with direct access to ST experts to secure proofs of concept and prototypes.
Synopsys Emulation Training Partner
An ASIC emulation partnership based on Synopsys ZeBu. This partnership validates our experience and expertise in ASIC emulation using the Synopsys ZeBu platform.
Technical support across the entire FPGA/SoC development cycle
From concept to validation: a complete lifecycle for your FPGA/SoC projects
Our teams are involved across the full FPGA/SoC development cycle, drawing on proven methodologies, state-of-the-art tools, and multi-industry expertise. The goal: to ensure performance, cost control, reliability, and optimized time-to-market.
From concept to implementation: an architecture designed to last
Design
Our engineers are involved from the earliest stages of FPGA/SoC development. From architecture definition to synthesis and place-and-route, each phase is designed to ensure performance, reliability, and seamless integration into your system.
We master complex FPGA architectures, subsystem integration, IP development, clock and reset distribution strategies, reconfiguration mechanisms, and testability constraints addressed from the earliest phases.
FPGA architecture
Definition of functional blocks,
hardware/software interfaces,
global constraints, and control strategies
(clock, reset, reconfiguration, security).
Subsystem integration
Assembly of IPs and modules within a
coherent architecture, with management of
interactions and constraints.
Custom IP development
Creation of digital blocks tailored to project needs:
high-speed interfaces (Ethernet, PCIe, SDI/HDMI, SpaceFibre),
standard protocols (SPI, I²C, UART, CAN),
signal processing (FIR, FFT, CNN, CMAC-AES).
RTL coding and synthesis
RTL coding in VHDL/Verilog/SystemVerilog,
synthesis follow-up, place-and-route (PAR)
and STA analysis.
SoC integration
Implementation of embedded processors (MicroBlaze,
Nios II, ARM, RISC‑V) and AXI interconnects,
DMA engines, and access arbiters.
Mastered design ecosystem
Languages, tools, and technologies
Proven languages, technologies, and tools to design robust FPGA architectures, optimized for the target technology and fully integrable into your system.
HDL languages
- VHDL,
- Verilog,
- SystemVerilog.
Design tools
- Vivado/Vitis (AMD),
- Quartus (Altera),
- Libero (Microchip),
- Impulse (NanoXplore),
- ModelSim/Questa.
Target technologies
- AMD (Versal, Zynq, Kintex),
- Altera (Agilex, Stratix),
- Microchip (PolarFire, Igloo, ProASIC),
- NanoXplore (NG-Ultra, Ultra300).
Scripting languages
- Python,
- TCL.
Rigorous methods, industry standards
Methods & standards
Our FPGA design approach relies on structured methodologies and compliance with critical standards to ensure quality from the very first lines of RTL code through board-level validation.
Methods
- V‑model lifecycle,
- Agile methodology,
- RTL coding guidelines.
Standards
- ISO 9001 (quality),
- DO‑254 (aerospace),
- ECSS‑E‑ST‑10/20 (space),
- IEC 61508 (railway),
- ISO 26262 (automotive),
- IEC 61513 (nuclear).
From concept to deployment: validate before rollout
Virtual verification
Virtual verification ensures that the FPGA design behaves as expected before production. Our teams deploy advanced test environments to detect issues as early as possible in the development cycle, using simulation or formal verification.
We operate at all levels — IP, subsystem, full FPGA — using proven methodologies (UVM, assertions, coverage) and industry‑standard tools.
Verification plan
Review of functional specifications,
identification of verification methods
(inspection, analysis, demonstration, testing),
definition of metrics (functional coverage,
code coverage, coverpoints), drafting of the test
plan and validation by a technical review board.
Testbench architecture
Design and development of the testbench,
component integration, and commissioning.
Test suite development
Creation, documentation, and debugging of test cases,
with reuse of third‑party components where relevant.
Embedded software verification
HW/SW pre‑integration and validation of software drivers
in multi‑core environments through co‑simulation.
RTL and post‑synthesis simulation
Execution of RTL and gate‑level simulations,
coverage analysis, and
regression management.
Mastered verification ecosystem
Languages, tools, and technologies
Specialized languages, technologies, and tools to secure complex FPGA designs and accelerate time‑to‑market.
HDL languages
- SystemVerilog/UVM,
- VHDL,
- Verilog.
Methodologies
- UVM,
- Assertions,
- Coverage-driven verification.
EDA tools
- ModelSim,
- Questa,
- Vivado,
- CocoTb.
Software languages
- C,
- Python.
Advanced methods, ensured compliance
Methods & standards
Our FPGA verification practices are built on industry standards and critical norms specific to the targeted sectors.
Methods
- Directed or random simulations.
Standards
- ISO 9001,
- DO‑254 (aerospace),
- ECSS‑E‑ST‑10/20 (space),
- IEC 61508 (railway),
- ISO 26262 (automotive),
- IEC 61513 (nuclear).
From concept to board-level deployment: ensuring compliance through deployment
Physical validation
We support our customers through the final stages of FPGA/SoC development. Our teams handle physical validation to ensure timing, power, and reliability constraints are met, both before and after board-level integration.
We cover both pre-deployment test phases (emulation, virtual test benches) and post-deployment phases (bring-up, debug, electrical and functional validation), in both digital and analog environments.
Board-level testing and automated test benches
Deployment of validation platforms,
test execution, and automation using
TCL/Python scripts.
Hardware and software debug
Signal analysis, interface validation,
and issue resolution.
ASIC emulation on FPGA
Porting of RTL code to FPGA targets
to validate designs before tape-out.
Mastered implementation ecosystem
Languages, tools, and technologies
Measurement tools, emulation platforms, and automated test benches to ensure FPGA design compliance prior to deployment.
Langages
- VHDL,
- Verilog,
- SystemVerilog,
- Python,
- C/C++.
Tools
- Vivado/Vitis,
- Quartus,
- Libero,
- LabVIEW test benches.
Proven methods, certified quality
Methods & standards
Our FPGA physical validation processes rely on industrial methodologies and strict standards to ensure the reliability of the delivered system.
Methods
- Bring-up,
- Post-deployment debug.
Standards
- ISO 9001,
- DO‑254 (aerospace),
- ECSS‑E‑ST‑10/20 (space),
- IEC 61508 (railway),
- ISO 26262 (automotive),
- IEC 61513 (nuclear).
Open hardware: flexibility, transparency, and control
RISC-V: an emerging architecture
ADVANS Group actively explores the opportunities offered by the RISC-V architecture, particularly in the context of open hardware projects, rapid prototyping, and the development of dedicated IPs. This approach reflects our commitment to anticipating market evolutions and delivering flexible, future-proof solutions.
SRU model optimization
With ADVANS Lab, we conducted research on optimizing RISC-V models for specialized computing units, addressing energy-efficiency challenges. The key question: how to efficiently deploy machine learning models for predictive maintenance on embedded systems with strict power and resource constraints?
RISC-V FPGA platforms
We have also implemented RISC-V cores to evaluate open-source architectures, for both internal and customer projects, particularly in the aerospace domain.
Engineering solutions for all industrial sectors
ADVANS Group operates across a wide range of industrial sectors, delivering advanced engineering solutions tailored to the specific needs of each domain. Our expertise spans aerospace, automotive, defense, energy, IoT, medical devices, semiconductors, telecommunications, and many others.
Our expertise in action on high-value technology projects
Project references
ADVANS Group supports its customers on high‑value FPGA/SoC projects, combining performance, reliability, and innovation. Below are a few concrete examples illustrating our expertise, from complex porting and secure emulation to test bench design and AI algorithm integration.
The examples below are anonymized to protect customer confidentiality.
FPGA porting for video processing
Migration of FPGA designs from Altera Stratix IV GX to Intel Agilex for high‑performance video processing applications. The project involved adapting existing RTL, maintaining software compatibility, and optimizing high‑speed interfaces (PCIe Gen4, DDR4, SerialLite). The objective was to improve performance while limiting code changes. Delivered as a fixed‑price project, with incremental board‑level validation and automated unit testing.
Nuclear FPGA – Microchip ProASIC3
Design and validation of two FPGAs to modernize reactor control and instrumentation systems. Strict safety constraints applied: 100% code coverage and internally developed IPs. Flash‑based technology was used to ensure functional safety. Delivered as a fixed‑price project, following nuclear quality processes with full virtual and physical validation.
Secure processor emulator
Development of an emulation board based on AMD UltraScale+ to reproduce the behavior of a secure processor and its complete environment. Integration of CPLDs, STM32, and high‑speed interfaces (PCIe, Ethernet). The objective was to enable software development and verification before availability of the final component. A multi‑domain project covering electronic design, FPGA, and firmware.
Image sensor test bench
Design of a complete three‑board system to characterize a high‑resolution image sensor. A Kintex UltraScale+ FPGA was used to manage LVDS video streams and low‑noise adjustable power supplies. Key challenges included ensuring signal stability and avoiding interference in a sensitive optical environment. Delivered as a fixed‑price project, with electrical and mechanical validation.
AI algorithm porting on FPGA
Implementation of CNN algorithms for object detection (clouds, wildfires, ships) on AMD UltraScale+ FPGAs. Use of Vitis AI combined with manual coding for specific critical functions. The objective was to optimize performance and power consumption for embedded applications. Internal R&D project, with continuous integration, simulation, and board‑level validation.
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Your questions about FPGA/SoC development – Answers from ADVANS Group
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are you wondering about the technical challenges, key stages, or engagement models related to FPGA/SoC system development? This FAQ brings together answers to the most frequently asked questions to help you better understand our expertise, methodologies, and the solutions we offer.
FPGA Definition
What is an FPGA and when should it be used?
An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) is a reconfigurable logic device that enables the implementation of specific and evolving hardware architectures.
It is particularly well suited when architectural constraints may evolve, production volumes are limited, or deterministic performance is required (latency, parallelism).
FPGA / SoC FPGA Differences
What is the difference between an FPGA and a SoC FPGA?
A “traditional” FPGA implements programmable hardware logic only.
A SoC FPGA combines this programmable logic with one or more processors (ARM, RISC‑V, MicroBlaze, etc.) integrated on the same chip, enabling hardware and software functions to be partitioned within a single architecture.
FPGA use cases
When is an FPGA preferable to an ASIC?
An FPGA is generally preferred when:
- production volumes are low to medium,
- specifications are likely to evolve over time,
- time‑to‑market is critical,
- or when prototyping a future ASIC solution.
Conversely, an ASIC becomes relevant for high volumes and strict constraints on unit cost or power consumption.
FPGA as an ASIC prototyping platform
Can an FPGA be used as an ASIC prototyping platform?
Yes. FPGAs are commonly used to validate an architecture, test IPs, or run system‑level scenarios before moving to an ASIC.
This approach helps reduce functional risks and secure architectural choices early in the development cycle.
Functionalities implemented on FPGA
What types of functionalities are typically implemented on FPGA?
FPGAs are commonly used for:
- signal and data‑stream processing (FIR, FFT, video, radio),
- high‑speed interfaces (PCIe, Ethernet, HDMI, SpaceFibre, etc.),
- hardware accelerators (computation, encryption, embedded AI),
- real‑time interface management and domain‑specific protocols.
FPGA verification and validation
How are FPGA designs verified and validated?
Verification is carried out at multiple levels: RTL simulation, functional verification (UVM, assertions), target testing, and system‑level validation.
For projects subject to stringent standards (e.g., DO‑254), V&V activities are integrated from the design phase onward.
FPGA project duration
What is the typical duration of an FPGA/SoC project?
The duration depends on design complexity, the required level of validation, and the regulatory context.
A focused development can take a few weeks, while a full project including verification and board‑level validation may extend over several months.
FPGA IP
Do FPGA projects rely on existing or custom IPs?
FPGA projects may rely on existing IPs (standard or third‑party) or on IPs developed specifically to meet design constraints.
The choice depends on functional requirements, expected performance, reuse objectives, security considerations, and long‑term maintenance constraints.
Outsourcing
Where can FPGA/SoC development activities take place?
FPGA/SoC design activities can be carried out:
- on the customer’s site,
- remotely from development centers,
- or in a hybrid setup, depending on technical, organizational, or security constraints.
Confidentiality
How is confidentiality typically handled in FPGA/SoC projects?
Confidentiality is a core aspect of FPGA/SoC development projects.
In practice, it is ensured through:
- non‑disclosure agreements (NDAs),
- controlled access to data,
- and information management processes adapted to the sensitivity of the projects, particularly in industrial, regulated, or defense‑related contexts.
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