Virage Logic targets China with SMIC IP license agreement

Semiconductor IP Platform Optimized for SMIC¡¦s 0.18-micron Process

FREMONT, Calif. and SHANGHAI, China, July 24, 2003 - Virage Logic (Nasdaq:VIRL), a leading provider of best-in-class semiconductor IP platforms, and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), today announced a licensing agreement for Virage Logic¡¦s Technology-Optimized semiconductor IP Platform on SMIC¡¦s advanced 0.18-micron CMOS process. This agreement gives SMIC¡¦s customers access to Virage Logic¡¦s Technology-Optimized Platform for high-volume, high-density and high-performance complex and mainstream System-on-Chip (SoC) designs.

¡§As one of the leading semiconductor IP companies in the world, Virage Logic¡¦s silicon-proven Technology-Optimized Platform provides customers with reliable and manufacturable IPs, thus reducing risk and shortening the design cycle,¡¨ said Dr. Sam T. Wang, president of SMIC Americas. ¡§The platform consists of a portfolio of embedded memories, logic library cells, and standard I/O cells that are optimized to SMIC¡¦s 0.18-micron design rules.¡¨

SMIC has previously obtained several IP licenses from various licensors.  Now with Virage Logic¡¦s extensive quality assurance efforts through its FirstPass-Silicon„§ Characterization Program, SMIC will further have silicon-proven IP that is not only reliable and manufacturable, but also compatible to customer¡¦s required specifications. Virage Logic¡¦s FirstPass-Silicon Characterization Program provides an industry benchmark in quality, reliability and completeness.

¡§With the Chinese semiconductor market expected to grow nearly 200 percent by 2006 to around U.S. $31 billion, we are pleased to work with SMIC to satisfy the industry¡¦s demand for silicon-proven IP,¡¨ said Adam Kablanian, president and CEO, Virage Logic. ¡§SMIC¡¦s advanced foundry technology and dedicated services, combined with our Technology-Optimized Platform, will provide customers worldwide with access to advanced manufacturing capability in China.¡¨

Technology-Optimized Semiconductor IP Platforms

Building on its technology and market leadership position, Virage Logic¡¦s Technology-Optimized Platforms aim to meet the critical requirements of reducing silicon costs and failure risks, while boosting performance and ensuring high manufacturing yields for a particular foundry or Integrated Device Manufacturer (IDM) process. By providing silicon-proven, integrated IP that is compatible with all the major EDA flows, Virage Logic¡¦s Technology-Optimized Platforms address the needs of complex and mainstream SoC designs.

Virage Logic¡¦s Technology-Optimized Platforms are based on its highly differentiated IP including the Self-Test and Repair (STAR) Memory System„§, the Area, Speed and Power (ASAP) Memory„§ product line, the ASAP Logic„§ standard cell libraries, and the recently introduced Base I/O libraries. Technology-Optimized Platforms enable customers to expedite the creation of next-generation products by addressing the increasingly complex task of identifying and obtaining the semiconductor IP needed to produce successful, on-time products. Virage Logic¡¦s semiconductor IP platform strategy calls for the delivery of Technology-Optimized Platforms for a broad range of third-party foundry and IDM processes.

Availability

Virage Logic¡¦s Technology-Optimized Platform for SMIC¡¦s 0.18-micron process   is targeted to be available in Q4 2003.

About SMIC

SMIC is the first pure-play advanced IC foundry in China to achieve volume production of 8-inch wafers at 0.18um and finer technologies. Established in April 2000, SMIC is a Cayman Islands company with three 8-inch fabs in volume production in Shanghai. In May 2003, Semiconductor International Journal, a leading publication in the semiconductor industry, awarded SMIC¡¦s Fab 1 for its excellence with the prestigious Top Fab of the Year 2003 award. More than a top chip foundry, SMIC provides customers with a full range of services that include design services, mask manufacturing, wafer fabrication ranged from 0.35um to 0.18um and 0.13um copper backend line services, as well as testing capabilities. In addition, customers also have access to the innovative genius of the in-house R&D team staffed by leading industry experts. As part of its dedication towards providing high-quality services and protecting the environment, the foundry's three fabs in Shanghai have achieved ISO9001 and ISO14001 certification. SMIC¡¦s 300mm facility in Beijing is currently under construction. For more information, please visit www.smics.com.

About Virage Logic

Virage Logic Corp. (Nasdaq:VIRL) is a leading provider of best-in-class semiconductor IP platforms based on memory, logic, I/Os, and IP development tools that are silicon-proven and production ready. Virage Logic meets market demands for cost reduction, while improving performance and reliability for fabless and integrated device manufacturer (IDM) companies focused on the consumer, communications and networking, handheld and portable, and computer and graphics markets. Virage Logic is headquartered in Fremont, California and has sales and support offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.viragelogic.com or call (877) 360-6690 toll free or (510) 360-8000.

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SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT FOR VIRAGE LOGIC UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995:

Statements made in this news release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, for example, statements relating to Virage Logic's business outlook, new products and new relationships. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which might cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include Virage Logic's ability to maintain and develop new relationships with third-party foundries, adoption of technologies by semiconductor companies and increases in the demand for their products, the company's ability to overcome the challenges associated with establishing licensing relationships with semiconductor companies, the company's ability to obtain royalty revenues from customers in addition to license fees, business and economic conditions generally and in the semiconductor industry in particular, competition in the market for embedded memories and other risks including those described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended September 30, 2002, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on December 16, 2002, and in Virage Logic's other periodic reports filed with the SEC, all of which are available from Virage Logic or from the SEC's website (www.sec.gov), and in press releases and other communications. Virage Logic disclaims any intention or duty to update any forward-looking statements made in this news release.

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