Prime Minister of Morocco, Driss Jettou recently inaugurated STMicroelectronics' new IC Design and Software Development Center in Rabat, with Pasquale Pistorio, President and CEO of STMicroelectronics, in the presence of the French and Italian ambassadors to Morocco.
The decision to set up the new design center enlarges the scope of ST's presence in the country from the original back-end and test operations to include the design of highly complex silicon chips, known as System-on-Chip (SoC) devices.
The mission of this latest addition to ST's worldwide network of design and application centers is to develop advanced System-on-Chip (SoC) products for Digital TV, DVD players, flat-screen displays, and digital still and video cameras. ST is confident that the emerging generation of Moroccan engineers can make an important contribution to the development of state-of-the-art silicon chips and plans to employ close to 150 designers by the end of 2004.
The new Design Center is located within the Mohammadia School of Engineers (EMI) in Rabat, one of the longest established and best known engineering institutions in Morocco. 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 new center in Rabat is also developing and supporting application software, which can be integrated into a complete platform for the needs of ST's European customers in the mobile multimedia and set-top box markets. The scope of the new center's activities will be subsequently extended to include the development of embedded systems and application boards, with the aim of establishing world-class expertise in this field in Morocco.
STMicroelectronics is a developer and deliverer of semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics applications. A combination of silicon and system expertise, manufacturing strength, (IP) Intellectual Property portfolio and strategic partners positions the company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and its products play a key role in enabling today's convergence markets.
ST is the largest foreign employer in Morocco and currently employs some 4,900 people in its three factories in the Casablanca region, where it has developed one of the world's most advanced automated semiconductor assembly plants. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
