Santo Domingo.-President Luis Abinader supported this Thursday the proposal of the Pontifical Catholic University Mother and Teacher (PUCMM) to create a semiconductor laboratory for shared use between universities and highlighted the technological advance that the development of its first microchip university represents for the Dominican Republic, as part of a commitment to strengthen research, innovation and the training of specialized talent.

This project is linked to the formation of the human capital necessary for the Dominican Republic to integrate into the semiconductor chain, a national priority established in Decree 324-24 and the National Strategy for the Promotion of the Semiconductor Industry (Enfis).

The device was created by professors, students and graduates of the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), through a process that allowed an idea and a digital design to be transformed into a physical circuit, from electronic architecture and simulation to its manufacturing and validation.

During his participation in the event “STEM Transforms the DR: Innovation to build the future”, the president expressed his enthusiasm and pride in the initiative and expressed his support for the project, considering that this type of research activities constitutes one of the fundamental purposes of universities and contributes to the country moving in the right direction, while strengthening the national academic, student and scientific community.

The president explained that the initiative is aligned with the semiconductor policy promoted by the Government and with the 2036 Goal of doubling the Dominican economy, through the development of industries with greater added value, better jobs and salaries, and greater incorporation of technology.

The head of state congratulated the team of professors, students and graduates who made the project possible and highlighted the participation of international specialists. Likewise, he pointed out that research projects require efficiency, but also patience, perseverance, prudence and dedication to achieve impact results.

In conclusion, President Abinader stated that the Government will continue to support research and technological training projects that contribute to national development and allow the Dominican Republic to advance towards more sophisticated and competitive industries.

Create and design own technological solutions

The rector of the PUCMM, Reverend Father Secilio Espinal, highlighted that the country has a technical, scientific and technological base that must become increasingly sophisticated capabilities to design and create its own solutions.

He explained that the device was designed and verified by members of the institution and subsequently manufactured in silicon through an international industrial process. He said that, as a next step, the university is working on a new version of microchips with neural processing capacity, with the purpose of exploring artificial intelligence operations directly from the hardware.

During the event, new ABET accreditations were also announced for the Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering programs, which are added to Industrial and Systems Engineering. With these additions, the PUCMM has four engineering programs accredited under international standards.

An idea and a digital design in a physical circuit

For his part, the director of the School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Professor Carlos José Pantaleón, explained that the microchip developed by the PUCMM made it possible to complete the different stages necessary to transform an idea and a digital design into a physical circuit, from electronic architecture and simulation to its manufacturing and validation.

The device integrates an arithmetic-logic unit, registers and control logic, components that allow it to perform operations and process instructions. The prototype has dimensions of 2,935 x 2,935 millimeters and was developed with 180 nanometer GF180MCU technology. As a result of the manufacturing process, 50 individual units of the circuit were obtained, which were subsequently subjected to the encapsulation and validation stages, following standards used in the international semiconductor industry.

To manufacture the microchip, the university had the collaboration of specialized international companies and programs. GlobalFoundries participated in the manufacturing; Synopsy provided tools and training for the design, while Keysight supported the simulation, measurement and testing processes. The project also became a specialized training platform for teachers and students, generating opportunities to deepen knowledge and carry out postgraduate studies in the area of ​​semiconductors.

The blessing of the event was carried out by the coadjutor archbishop of Santo Domingo, Monsignor Carlos Tomás Morel Diplán, who offered a prayer for the authorities and those present.

The president of the Constitutional Court, Napoleón Estevez, was present; the ministers of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza; of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Rafael Santos Badía; of Education, Luis Miguel De Camps; of Foreign Affairs, Víctor “Ito” Bisonó; the Public Affairs Counselor of the United States Embassy in Santo Domingo, Chelsia Hetrick, among other personalities.