MIPS Technologies has collaborated with the Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto (FEUP) to establish an engineering design course that will see the University’s Electrical and Computer Engineering department provide a research foundation for students as well as an opportunity to access MIPS Technologies’ IP for research purposes. 

The Institute for System Level Integration, iSLI, has announced that it is hosting a course on Digital Test Technology and Design for Test (DFT) in Bath, England in May. Running from the 6th to the 9th of May, the course is being run by iSLI in collaboration with Silicon South West. 

The AMD rumor mill has been proved correct in its doubt for the future of the company’s staff. A planned 10 percent cut in the company workforce was confirmed yesterday, which could mean close to 1,600 layoffs in store for the company by the end of the third quarter of 2008. 

Israel-based Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. has announced its intention to cut 6% of its approximately 290-strong workforce, according to a story at  EETimes. The reason given for the cuts is the weakening dollar. Nova’s business dealings are mainly carried out in U.S. dollars, while the majority of its daily running costs are incurred in New Israeli Shekels. 

IMEC’s engineering courses are to be continued this year from May to June 2008 at IMEC’s Leuven, Belgium-based facility. The two- and three-day courses are geared towards engineers, technicians, managers and executives with responsibility in the realms of process development, device design and manufacture, research and marketing. 

Established in October 2007, the Irish Technology Leadership Group’s Silicon Valley Awards are part of a new program set up to encourage Irish technology companies to bring their business to the U.S. and conversely to instigate investment in Irish technology companies by Silicon Valley-based technology companies. 

April 15th will see the beginning of Kiev Polytechnic Institute’s XXVIII International Scientific Conference, at which Patrick Kane, Cypress Semiconductor’s University Alliance Director, will deliver a presentation. The title of this address is “Encouraging Student Innovation: The Cypress Innovator Design Challenge,” which will include information regarding the objectives and origins of the contest and showcase presentations from past winners of the competition. 

The merger between AMI Semiconductor and ON Semiconductor is now complete, the company has announced, but not without staff losses. The impending closure of Fab 9 will see job cuts of approximately 150 over the next two years, while immediate layoffs of close to 60 people will be completed within the next 30 days, according to a local newspaper. 

Metryx Limited will host the first technical seminar focused on the implementation of mass metrology in the production of advanced semiconductor devices in IMEC’s facilities in Leuven, Belgium. The one-day seminar will take place on April 8th, 2008. 

Fujitsu Limited has outlined its plans to hire 585 university graduates in April, in line with its intended recruitment of the same number in April 2008. The graduates will be hired in divisions including system engineering, administrative, R&D and sales to support its IT products, solutions and services businesses.