System-on-Chip (SoC) Market Size, Share, Trends and Growth, 2024-2029 - MarketsandMarkets

Abstract

The MarketsandMarkets report forecasts significant compound annual growth for the global System-on-Chip (SoC) market between 2024 and 2029, driven primarily by accelerating digitization and demand across consumer electronics, automotive, and 5G communication sectors. This market expansion highlights the rapid integration of increasingly complex integrated circuits across a wide array of end-user applications. The analysis provides critical insights into key growth drivers, regional trends, and the competitive landscape shaping future IC design and manufacturing strategies.

Report

Key Highlights

• Market Growth Projection: The report confirms a robust market outlook, projecting substantial compound annual growth in the global SoC market throughout the 2024-2029 forecast period.
• Primary Drivers: Key market catalysts include the massive proliferation of IoT devices, increasing deployment of 5G infrastructure, and escalating complexity in Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicles.
• Segment Focus: Growth is likely analyzed across major end-user verticals, specifically Consumer Electronics (smartphones, wearables), Automotive, Industrial, and Communication Infrastructure.
• Trend Identification: Emphasis is placed on ongoing market trends, such as the increasing need for specialized processing units (AI/ML accelerators) and the shift towards heterogeneous computing architectures.

Technical Details

• Architecture Focus: The report evaluates the market share and trends for different types of SoC architectures, including Application Processors (APs), Microcontrollers (MCUs), and specialized System-Level Integrated Circuits (SLICs).
• Process Node Migration: Analysis likely details the continued industry migration to advanced fabrication process nodes (e.g., 5nm and below) to achieve higher transistor density, improved power efficiency, and reduced die size.
• IP Core Integration: The study examines trends in intellectual property (IP) licensing and integration, focusing on the blend of CPU, GPU, DSP, and custom hardware accelerators necessary to meet specialized application requirements.
• Packaging Innovation: Technical coverage often extends to advanced packaging technologies like chiplets and 2.5D/3D integration, which allow for the modular construction of SoCs to enhance flexibility and yield.

Implications for the RISC-V/Tech Ecosystem

• Increased Opportunity for Architecture Alternatives: The overall expansion and fragmentation of the SoC market provide a critical opening for open-source architectures like RISC-V to gain market share, especially in new design starts.
• Customization Demand Favors RISC-V: The report's focus on specialized silicon (particularly for AI/ML and automotive applications) strongly aligns with RISC-V’s primary value proposition—its customizable ISA, which facilitates the efficient design of tailor-made hardware accelerators.
• Cost Efficiency in Volume: Sustained growth in high-volume, cost-sensitive sectors (like IoT and embedded systems, which are major market drivers) solidifies the business case for adopting RISC-V cores due to their competitive licensing models and lower entry barriers compared to established architectures.
• Validation of Ecosystem Investment: A positive growth forecast for SoCs validates ongoing capital investment into the RISC-V ecosystem, including the development of better tooling, verification IP, and robust software support necessary for enterprise-grade deployment.
• Competitive Pressure: Market growth intensifies competition among IP vendors. This pressures established players to adapt, while RISC-V benefits from being the primary disruptive force offering flexibility to major semiconductor design firms globally.