Tiny Tapeout Bootcamp: Microchip Design : vTools Events

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Tiny Tapeout Bootcamp: Microchip Design

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The IEEE CASS UMSA Student Branch Chapter, together with K-Lab Bolivia and the IEEE NANO UMSA Student Branch Chapter, successfully organized the Tiny Tapeout Bootcamp – Microchip Design.

Held across four sessions on September 2, 4, 7, and 9, the bootcamp brought together students participating in person from Bolivia, as well as participants from Peru and Colombia who joined virtually.

The activity was supported by the IEEE Open Silicon Initiative of IEEE Division I, whose goal is to provide students with access and mentorship in chip design and fabrication.

Throughout the four sessions, participants were introduced to fundamental concepts of microelectronics and explored different stages of integrated circuit design using tools provided by Tiny Tapeout. The training included semiconductor-level exploration with SiliWiz, digital logic design with Wokwi, and hardware description using Verilog, guiding participants through the workflow toward preparing their designs for tapeout.

Following the bootcamp, participants were given one week to develop and refine their own chip designs. The selected projects will have the opportunity to be physically fabricated as part of an upcoming Tiny Tapeout chip, providing participants with the possibility of testing their designs in real silicon.

This activity contributed to expanding access to microelectronics education in Bolivia and Latin America, introducing students to chip design technologies and workflows that are traditionally difficult to access.

The IEEE CASS UMSA Student Branch Chapter plans to continue organizing educational activities in microelectronics and integrated circuit design, strengthening collaboration with other IEEE chapters and institutions in the region.