For the second year VivaCell-MTS undertook the general sponsorship of the International Microelectronics Olympiad of Armenia. The general organizer of the Olympiad is Synopsys Armenia March 24, 2011, Yerevan, Armenia – Armenia’s Leading Mobile Operator VivaCell-MTS, a subsidiary of “Mobile TeleSystems” OJSC, and Synopsys, Inc., a world leader in software and IP for semiconductor design, verification and manufacturing announced today that the Sixth Annual International Microelectronics Olympiad of Armenia will be held in September - October, 2011. This was announced at a joint press conference, presided by VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian and Rich Goldman, president of the organizing committee of the Olympiad, Vice President of Corporate Marketing and Strategic Alliances at Synopsys, and the Chief Executive Officer of Synopsys Armenia CJSC. The Olympiad aims at stimulating further development of microelectronics in Armenia and in the participant countries, discovering young, talented resources, increasing interest towards microelectronics among young specialists, understanding the level of knowledge in the field of microelectronics in order to make necessary adjustments to the educational programs and creating a community of young specialists involved in microelectronics. Eligible participants are students of colleges and higher educational institutions and specialists from companies engaged in microelectronics under age 30. “In its sixth year, the International Microelectronics Olympiad has achieved impressive momentum. Two years ago, the Olympiad took its first tentative steps toward internationalization, with the participation of students from Russia and Ukraine. Last year, students from five different countries participated. This year, we expect to nearly double that number with students from three different continents participating, traveling to Armenia from as far away as California. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of our excellent partner, VivaCell-MTS the opportunity to travel to Yerevan to participate in the Olympiads is proving to be a very attractive proposition around the world, and is creating an event in this field that is unprecedented throughout the world. The Olympiad is providing an impetus to showcase Armenia’s developing role as a regional center for Microelectronics, and is serving as a strong basis for developing beneficial relationships for Armenia around the world. I am certain that the relationships built through the Olympiads will reward the organizers’ efforts for Armenia in unprecedented and unforeseen ways. We look forward to hosting and competing with the brightest young electrical engineers from counties around the world, during Synopsys Week 2011 in October in Yerevan” - said Rich Goldman, president of the organizing committee of the Olympiad, chief executive officer of Synopsys Armenia CSJC, and vice president of Corporate Marketing and Strategic Alliances at Synopsys. “Education defines the future of the country. This is especially the case, when education is essential in boosting country’s competitive advantage. Healthy competition between IT students is a necessary precondition to creativity: this is a sphere where the determining factor is the brilliance of thought and not the physical strength. However, it’s not a sufficient condition yet. Such initiatives need to be encouraged as strongly as possible. As Armenia’s Leading Mobile Operator and corporate citizen, for VivaCell-MTS any initiative that leads young people to great discoveries by encouraging creativity is important. This is where we see our role as the supporter. Only countries valuing the intellectual development of young generation have prospects for further development. We wish the participants and especially our compatriots every success in the contest. We are confident they will do their best to use this opportunity to win”- said VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian. This year the Olympiad will host representatives from Armenia, India, Jordan, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine, USA and others. The 6th International Microelectronics Olympiad of Armenia is conducted in two stages: the first stage, that entails a test, will be held in all participant countries simultaneously, in September, 2011. The final stage will be held among the top contestants of all participant countries, in Armenia, in October, during Synopsys week in Armenia 2011. It will involve a challenging contest and complex engineering tasks requiring advanced solutions. The Olympiad topics are Digital IC Design and Testing, analog and Mixed Signal IC Design and Testing, semiconductor Devices and Technology, mathematical and Algorithmic Issues of EDA. 1st Category prize is a portable computer, 2nd category is AMD 300 thousand (approximately USD 800) and the 3rd category is AMD 150 thousand (approximately USD 400). There are also special prizes for the Best Engineering Solution, Most creative solution, Best out-of-the-box solution and Best Result among participants from each country. All participants of the Olympiad receive Participation Certificates. The first Armenian Microelectronics Olympiad was held on September 22-26, 2006. Eighty-two participants took part in the first stage, and 32 passed to the second stage. The second annual Armenian Microelectronics Olympiad was held on September 18-26, 2007. One hundred eighteen participants took part in the first stage, and 48 passed to the second stage. The third annual Armenian Microelectronics Olympiad was held on September 16-25, 2008. One 105 participants took part in the first stage, 15 of whom were from Gyumri. 32 participants went on to the second stage. The Fourth Annual Armenian Microelectronics Olympiad was held on September 4-30, 2009. 118 participants took part in the first stage, with 10 from Russia, 27 from Ukraine, and 11 from Gyumri. Forty-seven moved on to the second stage. The Fifth Annual International Microelectronics Olympiad of Armenia was held on October 4 – 29, 2010. Of more than 200 competitors in the Olympiad 1st stage, 132 were students from Armenian universities. A number of participating students were from universities outside Armenia: Moscow Institute of Electronics Technology (MIET); Saint-Petersburg Electrotechnical University (LETI); Saint-Petersburg State University of Information Technology, Mechanics and Optics (ITMO), Kharkov National University of Radio Electronics (KNURE); Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST), Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT), University of Niš and University of Serbia. 50 qualified participants moved on to the second stage.

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