Co-founder of Synopsys and Cadence and longtime SkyDeck faculty advisor is shortlisted for Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award
BERKELEY, CA / ACCESS Newswire / June 23, 2026 / Berkeley SkyDeck, UC Berkeley’s flagship startup accelerator, today congratulated longtime faculty leader and advisor Alberto Sangiovanni-Vincentelli on his Lifetime Achievement award nomination in the University of California Regents Innovation Awards. Sangiovanni-Vincentelli has been recognized for a lifetime of foundational contributions to the semiconductor industry and his transformative role in building Berkeley’s entrepreneurship culture. The awards, administered by the UC Board of Regents, recognize faculty and researchers from across the University of California system whose work exemplifies use-inspired research, responsible entrepreneurship, and the translation of academic discovery into real-world societal impact.
“Alberto is extraordinary – he is both brilliant and he is an absolutely stellar human being,” said Caroline Winnett, Executive Director, Berkeley SkyDeck. “He has spent decades pushing the boundaries of what is technically possible, translating that research into industry-defining companies, and then turning around and pouring that knowledge back into the next generation of innovators. His contributions to Berkeley’s entrepreneurship culture are as significant as his contributions to the semiconductor industry itself. He brings his heart and soul to everything he does.
Sangiovanni-Vincentelli is widely recognized as one of the founding figures of electronic design automation, helping to transform chip design from a highly manual process into the automated systems that power today’s computing infrastructure, consumer electronics, communications networks and AI technologies. He has served as a professor in UC Berkeley’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences since 1976, and he co-founded both Cadence Design Systems and Synopsys, companies whose technologies underpin the design of nearly every modern semiconductor chip.
Beyond his technical contributions, he has played a major role in mentoring generations of UC Berkeley entrepreneurs and researchers through his longtime leadership within Berkeley SkyDeck and the broader UC Berkeley innovation ecosystem. Learn more about his journey here.
“It is an honor to be recognized alongside so many members of the UC community whose work is focused on solving meaningful problems and expanding the boundaries of knowledge,” said Sangiovanni-Vincentelli. “One of the great privileges of my career has been helping students and researchers transform ideas into technologies that can have real impact in the world. Berkeley’s culture of openness and intellectual curiosity creates an environment where innovation thrives, and it is deeply rewarding to continue contributing to that ecosystem.”
Sangiovanni-Vincentelli is one of five UC Berkeley nominees spanning all of the Regents Innovation Award categories. His nomination reflects UC Berkeley’s standing as one of the world’s most influential innovation ecosystems, one that has consistently ranked as the top university globally for venture-backed startup founders.
Winners of the UC Regents Innovation Awards will be announced at a public celebration in the fall.
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About Berkeley SkyDeck
Berkeley SkyDeck is a leading startup accelerator and the global hub for entrepreneurship. As UC Berkeley’s largest and most prominent accelerator, SkyDeck combines hands-on mentorship with the vast resources of its research university. SkyDeck is the only accelerator of its kind that offers the value of a dedicated investment fund alongside the resources and network of a top university. To date, SkyDeck startups have raised more than $3 billion in aggregate. Participating startups have access to SkyDeck’s 980 advisors, 70 industry partners, and a network of more than 613,000 UC Berkeley alumni. For more information, see skydeck.berkeley.edu.
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Songue PR for Berkeley SkyDeck
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SOURCE: Berkeley SkyDeck
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