IEEE Solid-States Circuits Magazine - Summer 2023 - 95

T
News From the Open Source Community
The IEEE SSCS PICO Open-Source
Chipathon 2023 (https://sscs.ieee.
org/about/tc-ose/sscs-pico-design
-contest) was launched on 9 March
with an online information session.
By 8 May, 17 teams from 10 different
countries accepted the challenge
and submitted their designs. Besides
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MSSC.2023.3285128
Date of current version: 20 August 2023
a predefined topic ( " Lab
Bench on a Chip " ), one of
the novelties was the newly
available GlobalFoundries'
GF180MCU process
development kit (PDK)
and the proposal submission
process-this
time done with a JupyBy
8 May,
17 teams from
10 different
countries accepted
the challenge and
submitted their
designs.
ter Notebook. The submitted ideas
will be reviewed by members of the
SSCS Technical Committee
for the Open
Source Ecosystem, and
the results will be published
online at the beginning
of June.
Meanwhile, we would
like to bring to your attention
two testimonials: " The
Evolution of the Open Source Chip
Design in Pakistan " by Ali Sabir, a
THE EVOLUTION OF THE OPEN SOURCE CHIP DESIGN IN PAKISTAN
The chip design program in Pakistan originated at the ICD Lab, led by
Rashad Ramazan at FAST-NUCES, Islamabad (Figure S1). This testimonial
explores the historical journey of chip design in the country, focusing
on the transformative impact of open source chip design.
Driven by collaboration and accessibility, open source chip design
gained momentum in Pakistan. Students from the ICD Lab became
integral contributors to the open source community, fostering innovation,
knowledge sharing, and a more profound understanding of chip
design principles.
In 2021, the ICD Lab team participated in the prestigious
PICO Chipathon, aiming to revolutionize chip design in
Pakistan. Their commitment to unhindered learning resulted
in their first successful tape out, establishing them as IC
design pioneers in the country.
Building on their success, the ICD Lab team, guided by
their accomplished supervisor, approached the 2022 PICO
Chipathon with determination. They submitted nine proposals,
with eight accepted. Notably, they showcased their
ingenuity by integrating multiple projects into a single chip,
inspiring the chip design community.
In a 2023 survey, more than 10 leading engineering
universities in Pakistan recognized the significance of
open source tools. They integrated open source concepts
into courses such as " Analog and Discrete Electronics, "
VLSI, " and " Digital Integrated Circuit Design. " The ICD
Lab organized workshops and training sessions for industry
professionals, expanding the impact of chip design. This integration
fostered innovation, collaboration, and a thriving
chip design community.
Additionally, the members of the Pakistan open source
community extends its support to other countries in their
open source learning journey. They actively assist in course
ICD Lab Team
development, sharing knowledge and expertise to promote open source
chip design principles globally.
We express sincere appreciation for the unsung heroes in the open
source community. Their dedication to making tools accessible and user
friendly plays a crucial role in the growth and success of open source
chip design.
-Ali Sabir, a Master's student at the Department of
Electrical Engineering, FAST-NUCES University.
2021 and 2022 PICO Chipathon Tapeout Chip
Open Source Workshops Conducted in Pakistan
FIGURE S1: Open Source Chip Design in Pakistan.
IEEE SOLID-STATE CIRCUITS MAGAZINE
SUMMER 2023
95
https://sscs.ieee.org/about/tc-ose/sscs-pico-design-contest https://sscs.ieee.org/about/tc-ose/sscs-pico-design-contest https://sscs.ieee.org/about/tc-ose/sscs-pico-design-contest
IEEE Solid-States Circuits Magazine - Summer 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Solid-States Circuits Magazine - Summer 2023
