The MicroChip Design laboratory was opened at the UTM Faculty of Computers, Informatics and Microelectronics, as a result of the collaboration between UTM, the Moldova Electronics Association ACEM, the engineering company SafeLogic, with the financial support of the Governments of Germany and Switzerland.
The progressively advanced automation of consumer products have increased the need for chip production, which is constantly growing globally. Consequently, there is a demand for a bigger volume of services in the field of development and manufacture of integrated circuits. Thus, this conjuncture gives the Republic of Moldova the opportunity to become an important regional actor in the chip development process, but for this, qualified personnel are needed for the design and verification of integrated circuits.
On this occasion, the MicroChip Design laboratory was built at the UTM Faculty of Computers, Informatics and Microelectronics. The space is equipped with 10 workstations, 10 PCs and FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays – semiconductor devices that are based on a series of configurable logic blocks (CLBs) connected by programmable interconnects. FPGAs can be reprogrammed to desired application requirements or functionality after manufacturing).
The event was launched by the rector of UTM, Prof. Viorel BOSTAN, PhD, followed by the officials: the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Dorin RECEAN; the responsible for the affairs of the German Embassy in the Republic of Moldova, Ullrich KINNE; the director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in the Republic of Moldova, Guido BELTRANI. The functionality of the laboratory was presented by Andrei COVALENCO, the founder of the SafeLogic engineering company.
Other attendees present at the event were Vitalie EȘANU, president of ACEM; Natalia DONȚU, administrator within the “Moldova Innovation Technology Park” project; Dinu ȚURCANU, vice-rector for Digitalization, Dumitru CIORBĂ, dean of the Faculty of Computers, Informatics and Microelectronics; Dr. habil. Oleg LUPAN, head of the Department of Microelectronics and Biomedical Engineering at FCIM; Prof. Victor ȘONTEA, PhD, representative of the Department of Microelectronics and Biomedical Engineering; Ion IORDACHI, deputy general director at Invest Moldova; Elena MAEVSKI, project manager within ACEM; Cristian LUPAN, mentor and lecturer within the Department of Microelectronics and Biomedical Engineering at FCIM; Thomas Foerch, project manager at SBC (School of Business Communications); Olesea GHERDOVICI, component manager at SBC; Veaceslav SUTCHEVICI, adviser at SBC; as well as the professors and students from the Department of Microelectronics and Biomedical Engineering at FCIM.
In his speech for the opening of the event, the rector of UTM, Prof. Viorel BOSTAN, PhD, expressed his gratitude for the collaboration with the new partners, who chose UTM for the inauguration of the competence center in the field of processor design. This initiative revolutionized the curriculum, as noted by Mr. Bostan. On the occasion of the opening and operation of the laboratory, the spaces are subjected to analysis in order to meet the needs for the preparation of specialists in the field of circuit design. “If the hardware part (equipment, computers) matters a lot in engineering, skills and new technologies matter even more”, pointed out the rector of UTM. In conclusion, Mr. Bostan expressed his conviction that the UTM students enrolled in study programmes in the microelectronics field will now be able to obtain the necessary skills in this sphere, which is indispensable for the future of the Republic of Moldova.
Dorin RECEAN, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, thanked the Government of Switzerland and Germany for the support provided, noting the impact of the MicroChip Design laboratory for the development of the country. As noted by Mr. Recean – a graduate of UTM, the top position held by this university in the higher education system sets the institution as a desirable example. The Prime Minister considers it a gratifying and important moment that Mr. Covalenco chose to invest in UTM, here, at home, emphasized Mr. Recean.
The MicroChip Design Lab is equipped with 10 computers, with a licensed SW suite, widely used by integrated circuit manufacturers. The SW suite will enable mentors to train students on various topics of different levels of complexity in the field of “Design and Test of Digital Integrated Circuits” – the 2 main courses taught within the MicroChip Design Lab. Additionally, 10 FPGA modules were purchased, the role of which is to help students grasp design methods more quickly, as well as to develop practical skills due to the opportunity to actually observe the functionality of the circuit designed by programming on this module. At the same time, long-term FPGA modules could also serve as means of prototyping within a possible integrated circuit development project.
MicroChip Design Lab contributes to increasing the quality of Microelectronic Engineering Education in Moldova by creating the necessary conditions for professional growth and success in a continuously progressing field, fuelled by the increase in global demand for microchips. The SafeLogic engineering company comes with a generous offer to students interested in professional development in the field of integrated circuit design and verification, with subsequent integration into real projects, via offering internship programs.
On the one hand, the two main courses – “Design and testing of digital circuits”, offer students an optional direction for professional advancement, and on the other, it helps increase the base of personnel possessing knowledge in the field, which allows to increase the volume of services provided by companies from Moldova to manufacturers of integrated circuits.
From another perspective, the implementation of the MicroChip Design laboratory can also be seen as the first step in the long-term strategy to integrate the Republic of Moldova into the network of service providers for the production of integrated circuits, and the engineers prepared for this purpose make up the foundation for its realization.
MicroChip Design Lab comes with new prospects and possibilities for personal and professional success, with the chance for an income proportionate to the efforts made. Dear students, the future belongs to you, dare to push your limits by working diligently and devotedly, and the results will not be long in coming, rest assured.
The laboratory was equipped with the support of the “Strong Businesses and Communities for Moldova” project, financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and co-financed by the European Union, the Swiss Cooperation Office (SDC). The project is implemented by the German Development Cooperation through GIZ, in partnership with the State Chancellery of Moldova.
