I consider the 3 year collaboration between POET and Synopsys to be completed, at least at the front end, free of charge by Synopsys.
Why?
If you were in charge of Synopsys, and like Suresh and Subash, you believe POET to be truly disruptive, offering your services free of charge to develop the POET/PET TCAD at the front end of this journey and in return you get your foot in the door / game first, would be a strategic advantage. The early adopter so to speak of the TCAD world. Thus getting a head start on your competition. Especially if Synopsys got exclusivity for a few years once the curtain is raised.
Then you let the money roll in later when POET rolls out the disruptive technology into the market, through Synopsys.
Short term cost absoption, long term profit creation.
The cost to Synopsys of developing the TCAD in comparison to future potential royalties / licensing income for Synopsys would make the ROI of the front end cost a no brainer.
There are so many ways Suresh and his team can monetize POET.
It is going to be a wonderful sight to see how they roll it out.
Looks like very exciting times ahead.
ST