POCATELLO — ON Semiconductor continues its support of, and collaboration with, the Idaho State University Department of Electrical Engineering by recently donating an industrial-grade Linux server, eight state-of-the-art computer workstations and associated design software.

The new workstations will be used to train ISU electrical engineering students, and eventually to provide professional graduate-level education to ON Semiconductor employees.

“We have already started using the donated equipment for current coursework related to semiconductor design. In addition to the equipment and software donation, ON Semiconductor design engineers are working with us to create a new course that they will also help teach this spring.” said Steve Chiu, director of the ISU electrical engineering program.

Chiu said the workstations are powerful computers that use the Linux operating system, Cadence design software, and are also loaded with ON Semiconductor’s own proprietary software. They are used to design Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) chips, a technology used in manufacturing of integrated circuits used in a wide range of analog, digital and mixed-signal applications.

“The ability to use such modern tools is a valuable skill for ISU students. We are thrilled by this donation from ON Semiconductor and their continued support that will benefit our students and, potentially, their own employees through enhanced professional education opportunities,” Chiu said.

“This donation is another step in our commitment to Idaho State University STEM initiatives. We believe that by providing students hands-on learning experience in the classroom, we can help to ignite a lifelong passion and excitement about integrated circuit design,” said Paul Streva, Director of the Industrial Products Business Unit at ON Semiconductor. “We are excited to be able to support the next generation of engineers and look forward to the possibility of recruiting ISU engineering students in the future as we tackle the world’s challenges.”

ON Semiconductor’s Corporate Giving program focuses on disaster relief, environment, health, human services and STEM education. The company has been a proud supporter of the Idaho State University Foundation with $30,000 in donations during 2018 to help fund the Bengal STEM day, ISU Growing Together, MATH Counts and the Super STEM Girls Conference.