RABAT, Morocco --- STMicroelectronics opened a chip design and software development center in Rabat, Morocco, yesterday (February 5, 2003) that the company expects to host up to 150 designers within a couple of years. The facility was inaugurated by the prime minister of Morocco, Driss Jettou with Pasquale Pistorio, president and chief executive officer of STMicroelectronics.
The setting up of the design center expands the scope of ST's presence in Morocco beyond back-end and test operations, which have been here for some time. The Rabat design center is chartered with the development of advanced system-on-chip (SoC) products for digital TV, DVD players, flat-screen displays, and digital still and video cameras.
"Complementing the long-standing success of our manufacturing facilities in the country, our latest IC design and software development center takes our relationship with the people of Morocco to a new level," said Pistorio. "We have been impressed by the skill and enthusiasm of young Moroccan engineers and are excited by both the contribution they can make to our world-beating portfolio of innovative products and technologies and the contribution that we can make in stimulating the growth of a dynamic semiconductor design industry in Morocco."
The design center is located within the Mohammadia School of Engineers (EMI) in Rabat. Starting from an agreement signed in July 2001 with the Mohammed V-Agdal University, within which EMI operates, ST has supplied work experience for students, cooperated on research topics for post-graduates and endeavored to provide career opportunities for graduates.
The operation is intended to allow Moroccan engineers to develop their careers without leaving the country and Morocco to retain young and talented engineers in the microelectronics arena, said ST.
Around 20 graduates from the Mohammadia School of Engineers and 20 from other schools in Morocco and around the world have been recruited for the first phase of the center's development, which is initially focused on the design of integrated circuits for Digital Consumer applications, and the development of customer application software.
