Saudi Arabia Launches Chipathon to Localize Semiconductor Technologies
Saudi Arabia has officially launched the first hackathon for innovation in semiconductor technologies, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
In a remarkable milestone, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) has organized the 'Chipathon,' the first event for integrated circuit designs in the Kingdom.
In collaboration with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), the Chipathon seeks to support national talents and provide them with practical experiences through the use of advanced design tools.
Sponsored by ALAT, Siemens, and CDT Holding, the event aims to prepare a national hub for engineers and designers of electronic chips. Application and Selection Chipathon
Importantly, the Chipathon received applications from more than 700 male and female students from 31 Saudi universities.
Consequently, the event selected over 250 students from 25 universities who had been qualified for the participation. Training Phase Chipathon
Supervised by the Saudi Semiconductors Program (SSP) and Academy 32, the participants will have an exclusive opportunity to develop their experiences and learn more about the application of electronic chips in several fields such as Internet of Things (IoT).
Through the use of globally recognized Siemens tools, the participants will undergo an intensive 20-hour training program.
During the training phase, 30 participants will be selected and divided into 10 teams. Final Phase Chipathon
As for the final phase of the Chipathon, the teams will introduce creative solutions to address the challenges of chip design.
Then, a panel of expert judges including prominent specialists in the semiconductor industry will evaluate these solutions. Localization of Semiconductor Chipathon
In line with the Saudi Vision 2030, the hackathon paves the way for localization of semiconductor technologies.
By launching this event, Saudi Arabia seeks to position the Kingdom as a prestigious regional hub for semiconductor technologies.
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