01/07/2026
𝐈𝐄𝐄𝐄 𝐈𝐄𝐒-𝐈𝐏𝐒 𝐏𝐇 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐃𝐋𝐒𝐔 𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐏 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐂𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐙𝐄 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐑 𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍
The IEEE INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS AND PHOTONICS PHILIPPINE JOINT CHAPTER (IEEE IES-IPS PH) successfully held the inaugural IEEE Open Silicon TinyTapeout Philippine IC Design Bootcamp last April 29 and May 16 at the DLSU Laguna Campus John Gokongwei Jr. Innovation Center (JGIC). The hybrid bootcamp aimed to empower local semiconductor talent by promoting open-source alternatives to bypass costly industry barriers to integrated circuit (IC) design.
Hosted across two cohorts (Cohort 1 has 104 participants and Cohort 2 has 106), the bootcamp kicked off with opening remarks from the Chapter Chair, Chico Olaguer (IV, BS/MS-ECE), who welcomed partners and guests and shared the chapter’s mission to nurture Philippine IC development.
The event featured talks from industry experts and esteemed DLSU faculty to bridge theory with industry insights. Dr. Alexander Co Abad, a DLSU full professor, promoter of open-source IC design, and researcher, emphasized the national demand for semiconductor talent alongside the systemic and proprietary barriers holding them back. To solve this, he showcased free and open-source IC development tools and platforms to establish that advanced silicon design is now within reach, empowering students and local professionals alike.
To lay the theoretical foundations, former DLSU Microelectronics Research Group head and DLSU associate professor Dr. Ann Dulay delivered a deep dive into semiconductor theory and analog circuit simulations. Attendees then transitioned into practical application with DLSU Computer Engineering Program Coordinator and former ECE Department Chair Dr. Cesar Llorente, who covered digital design tools, hardware programming in Verilog, and prototyping approaches.
Offering industry perspectives, Nordic Semiconductor R&D Engr. Emrys Leowhel Oling shared how open-source initiatives act as accessible training grounds that complement the field by lowering barriers to entry for aspiring engineers.
The main highlight of the bootcamp was a hands-on laboratory workshop led by Dr. Abad. Participants learned to build and test their custom designs using Wokwi, Siliwiz, and VGA Playground before submitting them to Tiny Tapeout, an affordable microchip manufacturer, successfully preparing their work for physical fabrication.
The bootcamp underscored that semiconductor innovation is anchored in accessible hardware education and development tools. By bridging the gap between theory and application through open-source tools, the event equipped local talent with the skills needed to become the next generation of Filipino chip designers.
The chapter would like to formally give special thanks to the following partners and sponsors for their contribution to the success of the event: DLSU Laguna Campus, JGIC, TinyTapeout, JLCPCB, AnimoLabs, IEEE Open Silicon, PICDA, EasyEDA, IEEE Philippines Section, Electron Devices Society, IEEE Circuits And Systems Society, IEEE Solid-State Circuits Society, IEEE Computer Society Philippine Chapter, IEEE Council on Electronic Design Automation, IEEE Nanotechnology Council, DLSU FRWRD, DevKada, GOM Technologies, Quantum Computing Society of the Philippines, Galvatronix, Peers Tutors Society, DLSU Sprint, Dr. Meriam Gay Bautista-Jurney, and Africurity.
