News Release 

Winners of Annual Educational Awards of RA President

YEREVAN, Armenia – September 30, 2008 - Synopsys, Inc., a world leader in software and IP for semiconductor design and manufacturing, today announced that 29 of Armenia’s brightest IT students were awarded Presidential Awards during Synopsys Week. Established in 2005 with the approval of Armenia’s previous president, Robert Kocharyan, Synopsys entered into an agreement with the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund to establish the Annual Educational Awards for the best IT students in Armenia. The awards honor students who have the highest grades, are active in social programs, have participated in Armenian Microelectronics Olympiads, have written scientific papers or articles, and who have comprehensive knowledge and talent.

In 2008, the committee selected 20 deserving students from the State Engineering University of Armenia (SEUA), Yerevan State University (YSU), the Engineering College of the American University of Armenia (AUA), and the Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) State University (RAU). Nine students were also chosen from eligible high schools, including the A. Shahinyan Physics-Math Special School, Quant College, Anania Shirakatsi College, Photon College from Gyumri, and Evrika College of Vanadzor (see Appendix 2). The Presidential IT Awards Committee screened 134 nominees: 83 students from four universities and 51 pupils from six schools.

“It is an honor to continue the tradition of the Presidential IT Awards with President Serj Sargsyan,” said Rich Goldman, co director of the Board of the Annual Presidential Educational Awards, vice president of Corporate Marketing and Strategic Alliances at Synopsys, and chief executive officer of Synopsys Armenia CJSC. “The awards are becoming an enduring testament to Armenia’s growing prowess in engineering.”

This year, the committee expanded the list of nominations with a new category, “Grand Prix.” Along with certificates, financial awards and an Apple iPod Shuffle, winners received special Presidential Educational Trophies symbolizing the IT industry. Following the awards ceremony, the winners had a special meeting with the President of the Republic of Armenia Serj Sargsyan.

A number of categories and financial awards, financed by Synopsys Armenia closed joint stock company (CJSC), have been established for the winners:

• Grand Prix (1200$/360000 AMD)
• Best PhD Student (Icategory-1000$/300000AMD, II category- 750$/225000 AMD)
• Best Master Student (Icategory-750$/225000AMD, II category-500$/150000 AMD)
• Best Bachelor Student (Icategory-500$/150000AMD, II category-400$/120000 AMD)
• Best female student (500$/150000 AMD)
• Best high school student (100$/30000 AMD)

“The development of the IT industry in Armenia is very important,” said Ara Vardanyan, co-director of the Board of the Annual Presidential Educational Awards, and acting executive director of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund. “By promoting their achievements we can help motivate and encourage our youth to work harder and acquire more knowledge. I’m confident that the winners of these awards are going to play key roles in tomorrow’s Armenian IT sphere.”

“The intellectual level of award participants this year has increased significantly,” said Hovik Musayelyan, president of the Annual Presidential Educational Awards Committee, and executive director of Synopsys Armenia SJCS. “These young people will help lead our workforce and are expected to make a serious contribution to Armenia’s future.”

“I’m honored to have been nominated and to be one of the winners in this inspiring group,” said Ani Harutyunyan, the 1st category winner amongst the “Best Bachelor Student” nominees. “Receiving this award at the beginning of my career obligates me to do my best for the bright future of Armenia.”

About the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund was founded by Decree of the President of RA in April 1992. Starting in 2000, the Fund was available for sustainable development projects covering nearly all Marzes (regions) of Armenia and regions of Artsakh (Karabagh). During the past years, the Fund implemented numerous projects aimed at improving the quality of life in Armenia and Artsakh (Karabagh). Currently the Fund is focused on the improvement of large-scale physical and social-development infrastructures of the Homeland.

About Synopsys Armenia CJSC
Synopsys established its presence in Armenia in 2004, shortly after Armenia’s declaration of information technology (IT) as a priority business for the country. Since then, Synopsys Armenia closed joint stock company (CJSC), has become one of the largest Synopsys sites outside of the US, providing R&D and product support in EDA, design for manufacturing (DFM) and the development of semiconductor intellectual property (IP). Currently, the company employs several hundred qualified Armenian engineers, and is one of largest IT employers in Armenia. To support its growth, the company is investing in IT education, and is engaged in a number of pioneering and successful cooperation programs with major Armenian universities, such as Yerevan State University (YSU), State Engineering University of Armenia (SEUA), American University of Armenia (AUA), Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) State University and the Moscow Institute of Electronic Technologies (MIET). To supplement these activities, the company consistently promotes public interest in the industry by sponsoring Presidential Awards for the best students in IT, contests among young specialists and students, and through media, charity work and volunteer activities. Synopsys Armenia CJSC is located in Yerevan. Visit Synopsys Armenia online at http://www.synopsys.am.

About the Synopsys for Armenia Charitable Foundation
The Synopsys for Armenia Charitable Foundation was established in July of 2005. It supports Synopsys’ R&D operations in Armenia through a number of educational and social initiatives. Its activities are divided into two sections: educational and social. The Foundation’s educational programs include support to all Synopsys educational programs for ongoing professional engineering education, conducted in cooperation with major Armenia universities. The Foundation also funds the RA Presidential Awards for the best students in the IT sector and sponsors various IT-related contests targeting students and young professionals. The foundation’s social activities primarily assist the local communities.

About Synopsys
Synopsys, Inc. (NASDAQ:SNPS) is a world leader in electronic design automation (EDA), supplying the global electronics market with the software, intellectual property (IP) and services used in semiconductor design and manufacturing. Synopsys’ comprehensive, integrated portfolio of implementation, verification, IP, manufacturing and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) solutions helps address the key challenges designers and manufacturers face today, such as power and yield management, system-to-silicon verification and time-to-results. These technology-leading solutions help give Synopsys customers a competitive edge in bringing the best products to market quickly while reducing costs and schedule risk. Synopsys is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and has more than 60 offices located throughout North America, Europe, Japan, Asia and India. Visit Synopsys online at http://www.synopsys.com.

A special committee manages the Annual Educational Awards for the best IT students in Armenia:

Board of the Annual Educational Awards of RA President for the best students in IT sphere
Rich Goldman
Ara Vardanyan

List of Org Committee for the Annual Educational Awards of RA President in IT sector
President: Hovik Musayelyan
Committee members:
Lilit Gevorgyan
Arsen Shoyan
Garegin Chugaszyan
Vostanik Marukhyan
Aram Simonyan
Andranik Hovhannisyan
Manuk Gevorgyan
Armen Baldryan
Executive secretary: Vazgen Melikyan

Winners of Annual Educational Awards of RA President for the best students in IT Sphere 2008

Editorial Contacts
Gayane Markosyan
Synopsys Armenia CJSC
(374 10) 492-356
(374 91) 292-302
gayanem@synopsys.com