SMIC Enables Worldwide Access To Advanced 0.18-Micron Process With Adoption Of Artisan Components' Widely-Used Design Platform

License Agreement Signals SMIC's Expansion of Its Foundry Business with Worldwide Access to Thousands of Artisan's Design Platform Users

SUNNYVALE, California and SHANGHAI, China -- January 27, 2003 -- Artisan Components, Inc., (Nasdaq: ARTI), a leading provider of semiconductor intellectual property (IP) and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), China's first advanced open-IC foundry, today announced an agreement for the development and delivery of Artisan's widely-used design platform for SMIC's advanced 0.18-micron CMOS process. This agreement signals the expansion of SMIC's foundry strategy by broadening its worldwide presence and potential customer base. By adopting Artisan's widely- used design platform, SMIC gains access to thousands of worldwide users developing ICs utilizing Artisan's IP design solutions.

Under the terms of agreement, Artisan expects to deliver its standard set of memory generators, standard cell and I/O library platform products optimized for SMIC's 0.18-micron design rules and characterized using the latest electrical models of SMIC's process. The products will include Artisan's extensive set of views and models of the industry's leading EDA tools. The agreement calls for Artisan to distribute the products under its free library program on a worldwide basis. This agreement marks Artisan's first license of its IP with a local manufacturing partner in China and adds to its already extensive network of design service partners and end users.

"SMIC's strategy is to be at the forefront of the world's foundry technology and having a global presence is mandatory," said Richard Chang, CEO of SMIC. "We adopted Artisan's design platform because its solutions are widely used around the world and known for their performance, quality and support. We look forward to working with Artisan in a long-term relationship in developing products for future next generations of process technologies."

"SMIC has assembled an impressive array of capabilities to be a leading foundry on the world stage. Its technology roadmap and capacity plans offer customers assurances of a long-term design and manufacturing partner," said Mark Templeton, president and CEO of Artisan Components. "We are pleased that SMIC has added Artisan's design platform solutions to this set of capabilities and look forward to a long-term relationship in developing products and in supporting SMIC's customer base."

Product Availability
Simulation views for Artisan's memory generators and standard configurations of SAGE-X Standard Cell and I/O Libraries are expected to be available in the late first quarter of 2003. Complete views for all these products are expected to be available by the second quarter of 2003. Customers interested in Artisan's SMIC-based library products should contact SMIC at Design_Services@smics.com or Artisan via e-mail at eup_services@artisan.com or via telephone at 877-ARTILIB (877-278-4542).

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the delivery of products by Artisan, the characteristics of such products, the impact of the Artisan/SMIC relationship and the future of the Artisan/SMIC relationship. Actual results may differ materially, and Artisan disclaims any obligation to update or correct this information. These statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including the demand for semiconductors and end user products that incorporate them, general economic conditions, competition, technical limitations, customer concentration, risks related to international operations and international intellectual property protection, the integration of SMIC's 0.18-micron process technology with Artisan products and whether there will be technical or other difficulties that delay or prevent the availability of such 0.18-micron library products. We refer you also to the documents that the Company files from time-to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in particular the section entitled "Factors Affecting Future Operating Results" in the Company's annual report on form 10-K and its quarterly reports on Forms 10-Q. Artisan disclaims any obligation to update or correct the information contained in this press release as a result of financial, business or any other developments occurring after the date of the release.

About SMIC
SMIC is the first pure-play advanced IC foundry in China to achieve volume production for 8-inch wafers at 0.25-µm and finer line technologies. Established in April 2000, SMIC is a Cayman Islands company based in Shanghai. The foundry provides customers with a full range of services that include: design services, mask manufacturing, wafer fabrication as well as testing capabilities. For more information, please visit www.smics.com.

About Artisan Components
Artisan Components, Inc. is a leading semiconductor intellectual property (IP) provider. The company's design platforms are licensed to over 1000 companies worldwide. Artisan's design platforms provide IC designers with a common interface to a range of process technologies from the world's leading foundries. Built on Artisan's Process-Perfect™ memory generators, standard cell and I/O libraries, Artisan's design platforms include a comprehensive set of views and models supporting leading design tools and methodologies. Artisan's worldwide network of EDA, IP and design service partners extend the Artisan standard to a complete set of system level design and integration solutions. Artisan is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. More information about Artisan Components, including free library access can be found at: http://www.artisan.com.

###

Artisan Components is a registered trademark and Process-Perfect is a trademark of Artisan Components, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.