PCIEERD seeks support to MSU-developed power-saving microchip

By Ma. Cristina Arayata

April 21, 2021, 7:42 pm

<p>Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) Executive Director Enrico Paringit (<em>PNA file photo by Cristina Arayata</em>) </p>

Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) Executive Director Enrico Paringit (PNA file photo by Cristina Arayata

MANILA – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) executive director Enrico Paringit hopes that companies could support a power-saving microchip developed by researchers from Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT).

"We call on businesses and investors to take a look at this technology and its potentials. They should partner with MSU-IIT to make this (microchip) available in the local and international market," Paringit told the Philippine News Agency on Wednesday.

He said PCIEERD has allocated PHP3.8 million to the MSU-IIT researchers for the development of the power-saving microchip, which they were able to finish last year.

The customized microchip is capable of harvesting, storing, and using light energy for its operations, as well as prolonging battery life for smarter power management.

In a Viber message, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said that as of April 2021, at least 100 chips were already fabricated, 25 of which have undergone and passed chip testing and characterization.

"As conventional ICs (integrated circuit) available in the market consume power whether it transmits data or not, the MSU-IIT-developed microchip increases power consumption when transmitting data but only consumes low power when idle," de la Peña said.

Paringit, meanwhile, commented that power-cutting cost measures, achieving operational efficiencies, and applying conservation practices are among the challenges that the country deals in the energy and technology sector.

The researchers' technology is a bright prospect to address those concerns, he added.

The power-saving microchip is among the projects under the “μC-IC” program, which had a total of PHP32 million funding support from PCIEERD, Paringit said. (PNA

 

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