Philippines’ first industry led microelectronics institute unveiled

MANILA, PHILIPPINES: The Bruce Institute of Technology (BIT), a training institute with specific focus on microelectronics design and storage network systems, was recently unveiled in the Philippines.

BIT is geared to be the country’s first industry led microelectronics training center with emphasis on microchip design and development. The institute has partnered with industry leaders Synopsys and Cadence to develop and run an industry relevant microelectronics design engineering programs and has invited graduate and undergraduate engineering students from partner universities to participate.

BIT’s first program will be the development of the Philippines’ first commercially viable microprocessor. The Rizal Microprocessor, named in honor of the 150th birth anniversary of the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, will be a multi-platform embedded microprocessor that is configurable for various applications, devices and systems. Although the development of the Rizal Microprocessor is a modest first step for the institute, it is hoped that this will pave the road for microelectronic design engineers from the Philippines to eventually make their mark in the global technology ecosystem.

BIT also intends to offer practical training in device and system level firmware and software development.

The Institute is a project spearheaded by BiTMICRO Networks, a solid state storage company based in Silicon Valley, its Philippine subsidiary BiTMICRO Networks International, Inc. and both companies’ founders, the Bruce brothers, who were all originally from the Philippines. Rey Bruce, the company chairman and CEO, expressed the urgency to ready Filipinos in the ever-changing technological landscape.

“The Philippines’ traction in the global microelectronics industry is almost entirely concentrated in assembly, fabrication and manufacturing,” said Rey Bruce. “BiTMICRO is practically the only Filipino founded and owned company engaging into actual microchip design and engineering. We will do our part in uplifting the industry to higher valued services and service capabilities with the technology and products that we develop and produce in the country. Our goal with BIT is to replicate our success at BiTMICRO in developing microelectronic design skills.”

“We hope to eventually build a critical mass of locally developed engineers that can make the Philippines a favored destination of the world’s best microelectronic design companies. We still believe in the Filipinos’ ingenuity and their ability to be relevant in the world stage,” remarked Rudy Bruce, president of BIT.

Although conceptualized and funded purely by private industry initiatives, BIT is envisioned to be an industry responsive training template that can be replicated whether led by government or other private sector players.

Aside from the Rizal Microprocessor project, the Institute is currently qualifying its other training offerings and will kick start the program with the unveiling ceremonies at the BiTMICRO Networks Corporate Offices in Net Square Center in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

The initial list of participating schools includes the University of the Philippines, Mapua Institute of Technology, First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities, Don Bosco Technical College and Mindanao State University.