IC Design Workforce Media Roundtable “Boosting Semiconductor Industry Through Upskilling and Career Development”

Government and Private Sector Come Together to Regain PH High-Value Market Position and Reach Target 128,000 Semiconductor Engineers and Technicians By 2028. Officials from DTI/BOI, DOST-PCIEERD, industry associations, integrated circuit (IC) design companies and the academe exchange views about boosting the semiconductor industry through upskilling and career development. Present during the press briefing were (L-R) Engr. Robert James Y. Lomoton, Dean, Colegio de Muntinlupa; Dr. Alex Co Abad, Asst. Professor, Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering, Gokongwei College of Engineering, De La Salle University – Manila; Executive Director Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichosa, DTI-Board of Investments; Earl Qua, President, EIAPI (Electronics Industries Association of the Philippines Inc.); Dr. Dan Lachica, President, SEIPI (Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines, Inc.); Engr.  Niñaliza H. Escorial, Deputy Executive Director, DOST PCIEERD (Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development); Dr. Louis Alarcon, Head - Microelectronics Department, University of the Philippines and Director, CIDR (Center for Integrated Circuit and Devices Research and Charade Avondo, President and General Manager, Xinyx Design.

The IC Design Workforce Media Roundtable is a collaborative effort involving officials from government agencies including the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Science and Technology's Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), and the Center for Integrated Circuits and Devices Research. The event is also attended by industry associations such as the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (SEIPI) and the Electronics Industries Association of the Philippines Inc. (EIAPI), as well as key academic and industry stakeholders.

WHAT IS IC?

Integrated circuits (ICs), also known as microchips or chips, are millions or billions of microscopic semiconductor devices packed tightly into a single package.

The often-overlooked, small integrated circuit is the foundation of all modern electronic devices, enabling advances in computing, telecommunications, automotive, power, and other industries.

DOST INVESTMENTS ON ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY R&D

2011 to 2022 - 894M pesos to 29 projects

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OF DOST – PCIEERD

The program's goal is to develop and improve Filipino research and development (R&D) capabilities in academic/research institutions and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) agencies through degree programs, research activities, and expert mobility in the industry, energy, and emerging technology sectors to meet current and future human resource requirements.

Engr. Ninaliza H. Escorial, Deputy Executive Director

1. Visiting Expert Program

Open to institutions needing faculty members or experts from another institution wh

2. Research Attachment or Fellowship

Open to MS and PhD students, degree holders, and project staff of a DOSTPCIEERD or DOST-funded project, in the science and engineering sectors, who need to conduct their research in a host institution, including foreign universities and research institutions to avail of the host institution’s facilities and research expertise. 

3. Regional Consortia R&D Program for new researchers and institutions in the Region

The program aims to develop research capabilities and increase the available researchers, scientists and engineers in the PCIEERD priority sectors through regional consortia program. 

4. Expert Intervention for Scientific Engagement (ExpertISE) for PCIEERD Regional Consortia

The PCIEERD Expert Intervention for Scientific Engagement (ExperTISE) Program for PCIEERD Regional Consortia is a consortia development program that will be spearheaded by PCIEERD in collaboration with industry partners in the regions and DOST Regional Offices

5. Institution Development Program (IDP)

IDP aims to strengthen the capability of institutions to undertake research in S&T fields included in DOST-PCIEERD’s priority areas.

6. DOST Facilities and Lab Access Grants (FLAG)

For BS and graduate (MS/PHD) students who will conduct research projects directed towards developing emerging technologies and exploring innovations in areas such as, but not limited to, materials research, electronics and applied physics.

7. Researchers on Industry, Energy Emerging Technologies - Opening Opportunities for Learning (RIEETOOL)

RIEETOOL provides support to researchers, scientists, engineers, faculty, students, and personnel from academic, research, government, and private institutions. Training duration ranges from one week to one month for regular training and up to one year for priority and emerging fields.

ONGOING R&D PROGRAM

Center for Integrated Circuit and Device Research (CIDR)

The Center for Integrated Circuits and Devices Research, or CIDR, is an innovation infrastructure that facilitates collaborative ecosystem development in order to produce and sustain a critical mass of graduate-level IC designers. It is also an avenue for sharing resources between academia, industry, and government, to reduce the risk of bringing new technologies from discovery to commercialization.

DOST-PCIEERD R&D INITIATIVES 

1. Automated Emergency Ventilator (TIP-VentsForPhil)

Developed by engineers from the Technological Institute of the Philippines-Manila. This ventilator can assist patients with breathing-related illnesses, including those caused by diseases like COVID-19. 

2. Spiritus Vitae Ventilators

Developed by the engineers of Don Bosco Technical College. The design of the Don Bosco ventilator automates a manual resuscitator - the balloon that nurses squeeze during emergencies - to help people breathe when their lungs could not do it for them.

3. Breathing Simulation Machines

A breathing simulation machine developed by the ASTI and EIAPI with the same goal to provide solutions against the pandemic.

4. Neuronvent System

The project focuses on creating an emergency ventilator system based on a BVM. A BVM is a manually operated resuscitator used for patients needing respiratory assistance. The goal is to automate the BVM’s compression procedure, eliminating the need for human operators.

5. LISA Robot

LISA is a telepresence robot delivering medicine and enabling remote communication between health workers and patients. It can be easily reproduced for hospitals. UST researchers are enhancing LISA with UVC bulbs for disinfection and shelves for increased carrying capacity, suitable for hospitals and quarantine facilities.

6. Micro-C IC

We can now produce micro-C IC, a chip previously imported. MSU-IIT developed an IC chip with a microcontroller, power management, and energy harvesting units. This chip supports IoT applications for monitoring environmental conditions like temperature, humidity, pressure, and light, with a mobile app for seamless monitoring. Applications include smart buildings, agriculture, healthcare, and transportation.

7. Novel CIM Architecture

TUP researchers are developing a novel Computing in Memory (CIM) architecture using FinFET-based OTP ROM in the TSMC 16-nm CMOS process.

ESTABLISHED FACILITIES

1. Advanced Device and Materials Testing Laboratory (ADMATEL)

ADMATEL was established in December 2012 in response to the needs of the semiconductors and electronics industry in the Philippines. It provides Failure Analysis (FA) laboratories within the country. ADMATEL houses sophisticated and advanced analytical instruments for failure analysis and materials characterization.

2. Electronics Product Development Center (EPDC)

The EPDC was established to strengthen product development activities in the local electronics and semiconductor industries. The EPDC offers prototype design and fabrication of printed circuit boards (PCBs) and assemblies, as well as electronic product testing for Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and product safety.

3. Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMCen)

AMCen established in 2020 enhanced the country’s technological readiness, business sophistication, and innovation by focusing on additive manufacturing (commonly known as 3D printing). It serves as a collaborative research center, jointly operated by the Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) and the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) under DOST.

4. Advanced Mechatronics, Robotics, and Industrial Automation Laboratory (AMERIAL)

AMERIAL serves as a complementary facility, making enabling technology-based processes accessible to various industries. It aims to be a national facility for capability development in the field mechatronics and robotics as they apply to industrial automation.

FUNDING MECHANISMS FOR CAPABILITY BUILDING

Philippine Institute for Integrated Circuits

PIIC is funded by the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOSTPCIEERD) and implemented and managed by the University of the Philippines Diliman - Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute (UPD EEEI). Its goal is to create a pool of competent professionals who can contribute to the advancement of IC technology.

WAYS FORWARD

We supported the development of the PATHS roadmap, which stands for Products, and Technology Holistic Strategy. This comprehensive plan aims to enhance the country's industrial competitiveness and ensure sustainable economic growth. It embodies DOST’s commitment to establishing the Philippines as a key player in the global electronics market, promoting the "Made in the Philippines" brand to attract endproduct manufacturers and end-users. Through our diverse strategies and R&D solutions, both now and in the future, we demonstrate our unwavering support for the sector's advocacy towards its 2030 vision.

Dr. Ceferino S. Rodolfo, DTI Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head

Moving forward, there are three ways to uplift the electronics sector:

1. More Collaboration with Industry
2. additional funds for R&D
3. Development of Programs for Filipino Innovators

Industry adoption is a two-way effort between the researcher/scientist and the industry. Strengthening partnerships between academic institutions, government agencies, and private companies will foster innovation, improve knowledge transfer, and facilitate the commercialization of new technologies.

Moreso, there needs to be more funds allocated for R&D for electronics as their continuous innovation enables us to swiftly adjust to digital transformation.

And lastly, it is essential to establishing initiatives and training programs specifically for Filipino innovators that will empower them to create competitive, high-quality electronics products.