Initiatives for promotion of microelectronics and microfabrication at Sao Paulo State Universities-Brazil

This paper describes the five most important initiatives taken by Sao Paulo State Universities in Brazil to promote microelectronic and microfabrication education in graduate, undergraduate and community college programs. These initiatives are: (a) multiproject runs (with IC fabrication at international foundries); (b) fabrication of multiproject runs for simple nMOS ICs; (c) hands-on workshops on MOS microfabrication; (d) coordination of the "Electronic Materials, Processes and Devices" program taught at the Faculty of Technology at Sao Paulo City (similar to a community college program); (e) implementation of specific courses for VLSI design and basic MOS microfabrication technologies. These initiatives involve the graduation of approximately 25 associates, 40 bachelors, 15 masters, and 8 PhDs each year. This also involves the implementation of about 15 circuit designs per year, ranging from digital and analog integrated circuits to monolithic microwave integrated circuits. Besides these initiatives, master and doctorate degree studies in microelectronics, microfabrication and design continue to attract several tens of students.