MSU-IIT Microelectronics Research Lab

01/09/2026

MSU-IIT Wins 2 Awards at AMBIT 2026 Held in Caraga State University

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines — Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) marked another major milestone in research excellence and technology commercialization after securing two major awards at the AMBIT 2026 summit, hosted at Caraga State University (CSU).
Representing the university’s cutting-edge initiatives was a delegation composed of technical and intellectual property experts, including Dhondee D. Mugot, Project Staff from the Center for Integrated Circuits Design (CICD)—led by its Director, Dr. Jefferson A. Hora—, alongside key representatives from the Knowledge and Technology Transfer Office (KTTO): Shiny Rose S. Narit, Head of the Technology Transfer Enterprise Unit (TTEU), and Sittie Sohaila U. Umpa, IP Paralegal Officer.

Driving Innovation and Tech Transfer
At AMBIT 2026, MSU-IIT demonstrated its steadfast commitment to fostering research, development, and technology commercialization. The university's active presence highlighted its role as a key driver of innovation in Mindanao, bridging the gap between advanced academic research, intellectual property management, and real-world application.
The delegation showcased the strong synergy between specialized research units like the CICD, and the strategic oversight provided by the KTTO in safeguarding and commercializing academic output.

Double Victory for MSU-IIT

The highlight of the summit came as MSU-IIT clinched two major recognitions for its flagship innovation, the IITuc8k1612, co-invented by Dr. Jefferson A. Hora:
• 1st Place – Pitching Competition: Awarded for the compelling presentation and high commercialization potential of the IITuc8k1612.
• 3rd Place – Technology Poster Competition: Recognizing the technical excellence, design rigor, and research quality behind the development of the IITuc8k1612.

"This recognition reflects the hard work and collaboration between our research centers and our technology transfer officers," the delegation shared, emphasizing that the double accolade reinforces MSU-IIT's mission to produce high-impact, IP-protected innovations that contribute to regional growth.

With two new awards won at AMBIT 2026 at Caraga State University, MSU-IIT continues to lead the charge in advancing integrated circuit design, intellectual property protection, and community-centred innovation.

26/08/2026

𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗼 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀!

The 1st Mindanao ERDT Congress officially begins at the D'Orchard Event Hall in Iligan City, with international visiting professors, distinguished guests, university officials, faculty members, scholars, and representatives from participating institutions in attendance. The event brings together members of the ERDT community to celebrate research excellence and innovation, as well as the continuing pursuit of advancing engineering education in the Philippines.

Delivering the welcoming remarks, Jefferson A. Hora, PhD, Dean of the College of Engineering of the Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), emphasized that the Congress is not intended to serve merely as a venue for lectures and presentations. Rather, it provides an opportunity for learning, mentoring, and collaboration, allowing scholars and members of the engineering community to engage with one another and benefit from shared knowledge and experiences. He further highlighted the gathering as an important milestone for MSU-IIT, marking the first time since its participation in the ERDT program that the institution has welcomed five international visiting professors.

Looking beyond the Congress, Dr. Hora expressed hope that this milestone will pave the way for even greater international engagement, with the possibility of hosting international conferences in the future. He also shared his aspiration that when the Congress comes to an end, participants will leave with not only knowledge, but also partnerships—connections that can develop into meaningful collaborations and contribute to the continued advancement of engineering research and education.

21/08/2026

Building Mindanao’s Microelectronics Hub: DTI-Lanao del Norte and MSU-IIT Center for Integrated Circuits Design (CICD) Highlight Strategic SSF Collaboration

Yesterday, Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) College of Engineering (COE) and the Center for Integrated Circuits Design (CICD) were honored to welcome Department of Trade and Industry – Lanao del Norte Provincial Director Jane Marie L. Tabucan, along with Provincial SSF Coordinator Engr. Daryl B. Radjac.

The delegation was received by Dr. Jefferson A. Hora, Dean of the College of Engineering and Director of CICD. The visit focused on exploring strategic collaboration and discussing the proposal for the DTI Shared Service Facility (SSF)—specifically the Mindanao Microelectronics IC Design and Testing Shared Facility under the broader Mindanao Microelectronics IC Design Research and Innovation Hub (MMRIH).

Through initiatives like this, MSU-IIT and DTI continue to foster partnership in driving technological innovation, semiconductor industry development, and high-value engineering opportunities in Northern Mindanao.

14/08/2026

Following the Day 1 lecture series, participants immediately put theory into practice through hands-on circuit simulation sessions focused on Voltage Reference and SAR ADC designs on Day 2. Guidance was provided throughout by members of the Center for Integrated Circuits Design (CICD) MS Electronics Engineering Students, the CHIP IP Block Program team, and faculty from the MSU-IIT Department of Electronics Engineering. The first laboratory module guided participants through the design methodology of the Voltage Reference. This is followed by the second laboratory, the block-by-block simulation and full system integration of the SAR ADC. To culminate the lab exercises, participants have to combine the Voltage Reference block with the SAR ADC into a complete system. Additionally, an extra project challenge was provided for participants who are eager to go the extra mile by debugging and troubleshooting a complex circuit issue.

14/08/2026

The technical track on Day 1 kicked off with an engaging lecture series led by faculty experts in microelectronics. Assoc. Prof. Nieva Mapula opened the discussions with an insightful presentation on Voltage Reference Design Methodology, sharing key techniques for designing stable, high-precision voltage references essential for modern analog circuits. Following her session, Assoc. Prof. Allenn C. Lowaton took the stage to discuss Successive Approximation Register (SAR) Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs), breaking down critical architectural principles, design trade-offs, and practical conversion mechanics. Together, their expert-led sessions provided participants with a strong theoretical foundation and practical framework for this training.

14/08/2026

Strengthening academic ties and regional collaboration, leaders of the Center Integrated Circuits Design and Department of Electronics Engineering conducted an official courtesy visit to the President of Camiguin Polytechnic State College (CPSC). The delegation was led by Dr. Jefferson A. Hora, Director of the Center for Integrated Circuits Design (CICD) and Dean of the MSU-IIT College of Engineering, alongside Dr. Harreez Quimque (MSU-IIT Vice Dean of the College of Engineering), Dr. Gene Fe P. Palencia (Department of Electronics Engineering), and Engr. Mike Diangco (BS Microelectronics Engineering Program Coordinator), together with the project staff Dhondee Mugot of the CHIP IP Block (Project 1 of the CICD).

This strategic meeting highlighted promising opportunities for future research partnerships, capacity-building programs, and collaborative initiatives. By deepening the relationship between the MSU-IIT Center for Integrated Circuits Design and Camiguin Polytechnic State College, both institutions reaffirm their shared commitment to advancing microelectronics education, fostering innovation, and driving technological development in the region.

14/08/2026

The 2026 Voltage Reference Design Methodology with SAR ADC IC Design Training officially commenced on August 13 at Camiguin Polytechnic State College (CPSC) for an intensive three-day program spanning August 13–15, 2026. Spearheaded by the Director of the Center for Integrated Circuits Design (CICD) and the Dean of the MSU-IIT College of Engineering, Dr. Jefferson A. Hora, this initiative aims to strengthen regional capacity and foster innovation in specialized semiconductor design. The opening morning session set an inspiring tone for the workshop, beginning with warm welcome remarks from Dr. Jefferson A. Hora on the importance of building local microelectronics expertise. Following this, Dr. Maria Louella Salcedo, Director for Research Development and Innovation, delivered a special message emphasizing the vital role of research culture and institutional collaboration in driving technological progress. The morning program concluded with insightful remarks from Engr. Luwell Balagas, representing event sponsor TEKMARK, who highlighted the value of industry-academia partnerships in advancing engineering education. Over the remaining days, participants will dive deeper into practical workflows and advanced methodologies in integrated circuit design that focuses on the Voltage Reference and SAR ADCs.

11/08/2026

𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗗

Researchers from the Center of Integrated Circuits Design of MSU‑IIT Microelectronics Research Lab have published a low‑power 3‑bit Coarse Time‑to‑Digital Converter (CTDC) for All‑Digital Phase‑Locked Loops (ADPLLs) in 6G Zero Energy Devices (ZEDs), implemented in GlobalFoundries 22 nm FDSOI technology.

The proposed CTDC leverages a high‑speed Dynamic Current‑Mode Logic (DCML) architecture with a 4‑frequency divider for multiphase clock generation, supported by ACML‑to‑CMOS bridges and a digital thermometer‑to‑binary encoder. This design achieves a dynamic range spanning 2 GHz to 64 GHz, with conversion times of 8.69 ps at 64 GHz and 34 ps at 24 GHz, while maintaining power consumption between 3.03 mW and 5.47 mW—making it highly suitable for energy‑efficient 6G autonomous IoT nodes.

Paper Access: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11593314

08/08/2026

DESIGNING THE FUTURE OF SEMICONDUCTORS & MICROELECTRONICS IN MINDANAO! 🎖️⚙️

The MSU-IIT Center for Integrated Circuits Design (CICD) proudly congratulates our very own Dr. Jefferson A. Hora on being named a 2026 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipino Teacher (Higher Education Category)! 🏆✨

Dr. Hora—Professor VI, Dean of the College of Engineering, and a visionary mentor—has spent 16 years championing integrated circuit and chip design research in Mindanao. His dedicated leadership and passion for IC design continue to inspire the next generation of engineers, positioning our region as a thriving hub for semiconductor innovation.

Thank you, Dean Hora, for constantly setting the standard of excellence and showing us that every groundbreaking innovation starts with a teacher who believes in what's possible!

We are immensely proud of you! ❤️⚗️

The future is designed by those who dare to teach it 🏅

Congratulations to Dr. Jefferson A. Hora, 2026 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipino Teacher, for pioneering integrated circuit design research in Mindanao, mentoring the next generation of engineers, and helping position the region as a growing hub for semiconductor innovation.

Because every breakthrough begins with a teacher who believes it is possible.

05/08/2026

𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗗

A Graduate Student from the Center of Integrated Circuits Design and MSU-IIT Microelectronics Research Lab, James Lloyd B. Tumanda, has designed a 915 MHz/2.4 GHz dual-band low-noise amplifier (LNA) with reconfigurable gain for software-defined radio (SDR)-based IoT device applications in GlobalFoundries 22 nm FDSOI technology.

The proposed design employs a series-shunt switch in the band-selection network to improve isolation between frequency paths while minimizing the impact of switch parasitics. Separate input transistors are used for each band to relax constraints on the input matching network and reduce the number of MOS switches, enabling both bands to share a single gate inductor and reduce overall circuit complexity.

Operating at a 0.8 V supply, simulation results demonstrate a reconfigurable gain of 19.60 – 23.77 dB at 915 MHz and 20.51 – 27.51 dB at 2.4 GHz, achieving a noise figure below 1.5 dB, input and output return losses better than -15 dB, and power consumption below 4 mW at the low-gain setting.

This research is published by IEEE and was presented at the 2026 9th International Conference on Circuits, Systems and Simulation (ICSS) in Bangkok, Thailand.

Paper Access: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11593210/