The Final Stage of the 17th Annual International Microelectronics Olympiad successfully held in Armenia

The 17^th Annual International Microelectronics Olympiad attracted 307 participants from 12 countries: Argentina, Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Egypt, Peru, Russia, Serbia, Vietnam, UAE, Ukraine and USA.

The Organizing Committee of the Annual International Microelectronics Olympiad announced that the 17^th Annual International Microelectronics Olympiad of Armenia is successfully held having attracted 307 participants from 12 countries: Argentina, Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Egypt, Peru, Russia, Serbia, Vietnam, UAE, Ukraine and USA.

The Olympiad was conducted in two stages. The first stage, held simultaneously in 12 participant countries, involved a test to establish a baseline. The second, the final stage of the 17^th Annual International Microelectronics Olympiad was held on 10 October 2022 in “Synopsys Armenia” Education Department. Twenty-four finalists from 12 countries competed for the top prizes solving challenging engineering tasks requiring complex solutions. Of these 24 contestants, 11 were from Armenia, and 13 were from other countries. 

“The level of knowledge among the participants of the Olympiad in microelectronics grows consistently year by year which proves that the Olympiad serves its main purpose,” Prof. Vazgen Melikyan, the President of the Olympiad Program Committee and the Director of “Synopsys Armenia” Education Department, Chairman of the “Microelectronic Schemes and Systems” at the Armenian National Polytechnic University, said.

The Annual International Microelectronics Olympiad started in 2006 by “Synopsys Armenia”. “Synopsys” is committed to contribute in programs aimed at advancing the microelectronics education,” said “Synopsys” Fellow and “Synopsys Armenia” President Dr. Yervand Zorian. “Such contests and Olympiads help to identify the level of knowledge of participants in microelectronics in order to make the necessary adjustments to regional educational programs and curricula.”

The Annual International Microelectronics Olympiad is held in cooperation with the Technical Council for Test Technologies (IEEE tttc) of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the world’s largest technical professional organization. It is noteworthy that “Synopsys” Fellow and Chief Architect Dr. Yervand Zorian received the IEEE TTTC Lifetime Contribution Medal on 27 September 2022 at the opening plenary session of the 53^rd International Test Conference (ITC) for his outstanding contribution in advancing microelectronics education.

Viva-MTS is the general partner of the Annual International Microelectronics Olympiad of Armenia for the 17^th time in a row. The main supporters are “Unicomp” and the “Hayastan” All Armenian Fund. Among the sponsors of the Olympiad are the Union of ICT Employers, “Viasphere” Technopark, and “INGO ARMENIA” Insurance Company.

“We all know that the modern civilization, with its infrastructure, is based on the achievements of microelectronics. Moreover, our dependence on it will only grow. Viva-MTS has its vision of long-term development, and we work with all the stakeholders in order to harmonize our vision. This is because telecommunication is an operator of E2E (End-to-End) solutions. For Armenia, advancement in microelectronics means improvement of the quality of life, getting more competitive advantages and an opportunity for the youth to remain in own homeland, raise kids, grow personally, and make own country flourish,” Viva-MTS General Director Armen Avetisian said.

The winners of the 17^th Annual International Microelectronics Olympiad were announced during the awarding ceremony held at Matenadaran on 10 October 2022:

• Ignacio de Pedro from Argentina became the first prize winner.
• Vasilije Nosovic from Serbia got the second place.
• Two third prizes were awarded to –
  • Rodrigo do Nascimiento Toledo from Brazil
  • Armen Babayan from Armenia

The Olympiad highlights some of the brightest, most talented students under the age of 30.

Olympiad goals are:

• Promotion of microelectronics
• Creation of a global community of young professionals
• Evaluating the level of knowledge in microelectronics and making necessary adjustments in educational programs
• Raising awareness about Armenia as an advanced center of microelectronics

“The International Microelectronics Olympiad has become one of Armenia’s branded events for the last 17 years. The fact that national Olympiads are being held in dozens of countries and winners are visiting Armenia to participate in the final stage alone increases the visibility of Armenia worldwide as a country with strong tradition in the Microelectronics education,” said the Vice President of Olympiad Org Committee, “Synopsys Armenia” Director Hovik Musayelyan.

Olympiad topics for 2022 included: Digital IC Design and Test, Analog and Mixed Signal IC Design and Test, Semiconductor Devices and Technology, and Mathematic and Algorithmic Issues of Electronic Design Automation (EDA).  

For more information, visit the annual International Microelectronics Olympiad website at www.microelectronicsolympiad.org.