[jlokier]

I've read there's actually some excellent ASIC open source design flows now, thanks to some open PDKs (notably Skywater) as well as recent funded research. I haven't tried the toolchains myself but they are readily available and you have courses like Zero to ASIC using them.

They don't target the advanced nodes where masks cost as much as the GPs prices (though $20-30M sounds higher than I expected even at the leading edge), but they are workibg their way forward and the space in general is being disrupted at last.

[lizknope]

I've taped out 4 chips in 5nm and our managers and VP's have said about $30 million for a full set of masks (base layers plus metal layers)

The $20 million is for metal layers only for a respin.

We are moving to 3nm right now which will be even more expensive.

The open source tools can't handle the latest process nodes. Maybe in the future but this is a highly specialized area with tons of NDAs from the fabs for PDKs and DRC decks.