Synopsys Inc. (NASDAQ: SNPS) launched Ansys 2026 R1 on March 11, combining integrated Synopsys-Ansys capabilities with artificial intelligence features for engineering design and simulation workflows.

The release includes joint solutions that connect previously separate engineering processes. The integrated offerings span safety analysis, materials workflow, photonic design, and software development solutions.

New joint solutions include connections between Synopsys VC Functional Safety Manager and Ansys medini analyze software for automotive and aerospace safety applications. The integration links system-level and silicon-level safety analysis while automating traceability processes.

The materials workflow integrates Synopsys QuantumATK with the Ansys Granta MI platform, enabling material discovery and development from atomic-scale simulation to enterprise applications. A photonic design workflow connects Synopsys OptoCompiler with Ansys Lumerical FDTD software for device and system-level optical simulation.

AI capabilities in the release include Ansys GeomAI platform for geometry, which uses generative AI for conceptual design exploration. Mesh Agent in Ansys Mechanical software helps engineers resolve meshing failures during model preprocessing. The Discovery Validation Agent in Ansys Discovery software identifies setup issues using contextual intelligence.

The Ansys SimAI platform now offers two versions: SimAI Premium SaaS and SimAI Pro for desktop access with local data storage. Ansys Engineering Copilot is available in medini analyze, ModelCenter, and Rocky software.

Digital twin capabilities include enhancements to Ansys TwinAI software with fusion modeling methods and a reduced-order model wizard. Ansys CoSim enables distributed co-simulation connecting multiple system-level tools.

The announcement was made during Synopsys Converge 2026, taking place March 11-12 at the Santa Clara Convention Center.