INTEC, MICM and ADOZONA conclude first workshop on digital integrated circuit design

The training was provided by Synopsys, a leading company in the development of specialized software for complex integrated circuits, based in Silicon Valley, United States.

SANTO DOMINGO. -El Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs (MICM) and the Dominican Association of Free Trade Zones (ADOZONA) concluded the intensive workshop on Digital Integrated Circuit Design taught by professionals from the company Synopsys.

The objective of the training, in which 25 students and teachers of the Mechatronic, Electrical and Electronic Engineering programs participated, was to create a community of professionals oriented towards the development of the microelectronics industry in the country for the development of the semiconductor industry, declared a high national priority by the President of the Republic, Luis Abinader, last June.

The certificate presentation ceremony was led by Arturo del Villar, Academic Vice-Rector; Deyslen Mariano, Electronic Engineering Coordinator; Giusseppe Sbriz, Electrical Engineering Coordinator, and Armando Taveras, professor of engineering courses at INTEC; also Johannes Kelner, Vice-Minister of Free Trade Zones and Special Regimes at MICM, and José Martínez, Applications Engineer at Synopsys.

The workshop, which lasted 37 hours and was held from November 11 to 15, covered the topics of Introduction to Digital Design Flow, CMOS Fundamentals, Introduction to IC Manufacturing, Digital Circuit Simulation with VCS, Digital Circuit Synthesis, and other content. In addition, participants received instruction in four laboratories on RTL Writing with Verilog, Digital Circuit Simulation using Synopsys' VERDI, Digital Circuit Synthesis using Synopsys' DC, and Digital Circuit Place and Route using Synopsys' ICCII.

Evaluating the workshop, José Martínez, a member of Synopsys and one of the facilitators, stated that “very few universities have welcomed us with such a warm welcome and with such high quality as INTEC has done during this week.”

He pointed out that semiconductors are part of the future of technology at a global level, "so promoting semiconductors in Latin America means that we are preparing professionals to get on board this ship and also be part of this great workforce that is concentrated in the United States, Europe and Asia," said Martinez. 

He pointed out that the fact that there are students and teachers receiving training in semiconductors at INTEC is not only sowing the seeds in a new generation, but also ensuring that the topic continues to be replicated throughout Latin America.

The academic coordinator of the Engineering Department at INTEC, Deyslen Mariano, said that the workshop is very important not only for the participants, but also for the university, as it brings new knowledge and helps students and professionals raise the bar in terms of the design and development of integrated circuits.

"This initiative will have an impact on the sector, since it is a new sector that we are still learning about, and this will help train more qualified professionals in our country," Mariano said.  

Sharing her experience as a student in the intensive workshop, Ashley Valdez, a student of Mechatronic Engineering, stated that the field of semiconductors is very broad and can be applied in different areas. “I really think the initiative that the university, MICM and Adozona have had is quite good, since it is a very broad field and will be of benefit to the Dominican Republic and to each one of us.”

Katherine Candelier, Lead Engineer ENG. Electronics Hardware at Eaton and professor at INTEC, also said that she will use the knowledge acquired in design and development to promote technology and the creation of new patents in the electronics field.

When evaluating the content of the workshop, he said: “I thought it was a complete program, the material they taught was very well selected, and it will help us to continue growing and developing in this area in the country.” Candelier pointed out that the training adds great value to the country, because it is entering the world of semiconductors and new technologies.

Shamir Paula, a graduate of Mechatronics Engineering and head of the Mechatronics Laboratory at INTEC, said that with the new implementations in the Dominican Republic of microchip manufacturing, he will apply everything learned in the course and will pass it on to the students.

“This initiative represents progress in microchip manufacturing in the Dominican Republic, since we are starting from scratch to have actors involved in the area in the entire country,” he said, and positively valued the triple helix alliance of Adozona, INTEC and the MICM, to develop the microchip industry in the country.