Systems and methods for protocol bridging for a system level modeling simulation (SLMS), such as a SYSTEMC simulation where the components communicate using a TLM2.0 application programming interface (API). The method includes accessing design configuration information describing a first component of the SLMS that uses a first communication protocol and a second component of the SLMS that uses a second communication protocol. Run-time bridging logic is inserted between the first component and the second component based on the design configuration information. The run-time bridging logic is inserted at initialization of the SLMS and configured to bridge the first communication protocol of the first component and the second communication protocol of the second component.