A significant milestone for Philippine microelectronics education unfolded on May 29, 2026, as Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) hosted the first Philippine Integrated Circuit Design Association (PICDA) Microelectronics Olympics 2026 at the university's Microelectronics Laboratory.

Organized by the Center of Integrated Circuits Design (CICD) of MSU-IIT in partnership with PICDA, the national competition gathered around 80 students from 12 universities across the country, providing a platform for aspiring integrated circuit (IC) designers to showcase their skills and knowledge.

The competition featured four categories: the IC Design Olympiad, an individual contest that tested participants' theoretical understanding and problem-solving abilities, and three team-based events in Analog IC Design, Digital RTL IC Design, and Full Layout IC Design.

Participating institutions included MSU-IIT, Caraga State University, University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines–Cagayan de Oro, Colegio de Muntinlupa, Mindanao State University–Marawi, First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities (FAITH Colleges), Technological University of the Philippines–Manila, Tanauan City College, AMA College–Cavite, Batangas State University–Alangilan Campus, National University–Laguna, and De La Salle University–Dasmariñas.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Jefferson A. Hora, Director of the CICD and Microelectronics Laboratory at MSU-IIT and PICDA Vice President for Academic Affairs, emphasized that the event supports PICDA's mission of strengthening the Philippine IC design ecosystem through collaboration among academe, industry, and government.

More than a competition, Dr. Hora described the event as "a celebration of talent, innovation, creativity, and passion in the field of microelectronics." He noted that the strong participation from universities nationwide reflects the growing interest in IC design and semiconductor education.

The same optimism was echoed by Engr. James Botiquin, PICDA Vice President for Industry, who highlighted the growing reach of IC design education in the country.

"We are at the dawn of a smart, AI-driven economy of which IC design is the foundation," Botiquin said.

He stressed that integrated circuits serve as the backbone of modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, edge computing, 5G and 6G communications, electric vehicles, smart agriculture, and advanced healthcare, positioning IC design as a key enabler of the country's future development.

"The country that excels in IC design will lead the future—not just assemble it," he added.

Industry-Driven Design Challenges

The competition challenged the participants to solve design problems developed by PICDA's industry partners.

Xinyx Design prepared the questions for the IC Design Olympiad and the Analog IC Design challenge, while Silicon Verified developed the Digital RTL Design problem. Ionics EMS Inc. crafted the design challenge for the Full Layout IC Design competition.

For six hours, students worked through complex design tasks that required technical expertise, critical thinking, troubleshooting, optimization, and design iteration under time pressure.

The event also showcased how innovation can help overcome resource limitations in microelectronics education. Through the use of open-source design tools and remote desktop access, students from universities with varying levels of laboratory capability were able to compete on an equal footing in a national IC design competition and gain hands-on experience in industry-based design challenges.

Participants Share Their Experience

Following the team competitions, participants and faculty coaches shared their experiences during a fun and informal kumustahan session.

A student from FAITH Colleges described the competition as both exciting and challenging, saying that while the experience was initially overwhelming, it provided them valuable exposure to the field of microelectronics.

Engr. Francis Malabanan, a faculty coach from the same institution, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the event. He said it was fulfilling to witness their students apply the knowledge and skills they had acquired through the microelectronics courses offered by the school.

Meanwhile, a participant from AMA College–Cavite admitted feeling nervous as it was his first competing in an IC Olympiad. Despite the challenge, he said, his preparation aligned well with many of the concepts covered in the IC Design Olympiad. At the same time, he noted that several questions reflected graduate-level knowledge and industry-relevant applications, highlighting the competition's high level of difficulty.

Overall, participants said that the competition provided a meaningful platform to sharpen their skills, learn from the design challenges, and connect with fellow aspiring IC designers from across the country.

The official results will be announced once the industry partners complete the evaluation of all submissions.

Looking Ahead

For Dr. Hora, the success of the inaugural Microelectronics Olympics signals the growing potential of microelectronics education as a sustainable source of highly skilled talent for the country's expanding semiconductor industry.

He shared that PICDA envisions the Microelectronics Olympics as an annual national platform that will continue to strengthen partnerships among universities, industry leaders, and government institutions.

As participation continues to grow and industry support expands, organizers remain optimistic about the future of Philippine microelectronics and IC design.

"The future of Philippine microelectronics and IC design is bright and full of promise," Dr. Hora said.