HCM City (VNA) – The first made-in-Viet Nam 8-bit named RISC SigmaK3 made its debut in Ho Chi Minh City on January 16.

The chip was result of a two-year work by a group of researchers from the IC Design, Research and Education Centre (ICDREC) under the HCM City National University , with a modest fund of 2 billion VND, half of which came from the State budget.

 

 

 

According to ICDREC Deputy Director and head of the research team Ngo Duc Hoang, the 8-bit RISC SigmaK3 chip was made using the TSMC 0.25 micron technology, which is popular for IP cores in the world. The project to design and produce SigmaK3 has been supported by other members of the university, like the University of Technology, University of Natural Sciences and the International University. Foreign companies like Qualcomm, Synopsys, MOSIS, Global Cybersoft, Mentor Graphics, Altera and domestic companies like Viet Vmicro too have also been involved.

 

Experts said the product was a proof of Viet Nam ’s ability to produce IP cores, opening a new stage for the country’s electronic production. According to them, SigmaK3 is suitable for hand-held electronic devices such as TV remote controls or medical tools.

 

 

 

ICDREC plans to perfect its IP cores in order to receive international certificates from the AMPP and OpenMore.

 

In addition, the centre prepares to market its products under the ICDREC trademark, research and produce 16/32 bit IP cores, and begin the use of 0.13 micron technology in a bid to catch up with the latest technological trend in the world.-Enditem