Microchip Technology Creates New Academic Partner Program

New Program Offers Free Training and Curriculum to Educators; Discounted Development Tools for Students and Educators, and Extends Beyond Universities to K-12 Grade Levels

CHANDLER, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP), a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, today announced the creation of the new Microchip Academic Partner program, providing an opportunity for academia to partner with a semiconductor industry leader to increase their knowledge base in embedded applications. The program, which offers free local training and curriculum to educators via Microchip's Regional Training Centers (RTCs) and Web site (www.microchip.com/academic); as well as discounts on development tools and software for both students and educators, is also expanding beyond universities to the K-12 grade levels.

"We have a large challenge to undertake with regard to engineering education in today's world," said Steve Sanghi, president and CEO of Microchip. "Many of today's youth think that the only options for them are to be in Hollywood or become a professional athlete. Microchip's academic program is challenging this head-on by making it 'hip and easy' to learn science, technology and math, so that students can aspire to be successful engineers and citizens--the people who will shape our tomorrow."

With regard to training, Microchip Academic Partner educators are invited to attend training classes at any one of Microchip's 35 worldwide Regional Training Centers free of charge. Interested partners can visit www.microchip.com/RTC to locate and contact their RTC to register for classes. Attendance is based upon availability. Additionally, educator partners and students alike can take any of Microchip's online labs for free at www.microchip.com/academic.

All educators and students with an e-mail address ending in .edu, .k12 or .ac automatically receive a discount on Microchip development tools at microchipDIRECT. Discount coupons can also be requested via email to academic@microchip.com or academic.cn@microchip.com (Chinese language). Microchip's Academic Partner program also offers development tool lab sets made specifically for education, and support for university researchers and entrepreneurship programs creating innovative electronic designs.

To become a Microchip Academic Partner, please send an e-mail requesting the application to academic@microchip.com. For further information, contact any Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide distributor, or visit Microchip's Web site at www.microchip.com/academic.

As part of its commitment to improving engineering education, Microchip is an Official Supplier of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), meaning it donates semiconductor and development-tool products to all 1,500 high-school FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) teams worldwide. These donations impact 37,000 students, globally. Additionally, Microchip is the organizing sponsor for the FRC Arizona Regional and provides support for several of the teams. For more information about FIRST, please visit www.usfirst.org.

Microchip Customer Support

Microchip is committed to supporting its customers by helping design engineers develop products faster and more efficiently. Customers can access four main service areas at www.microchip.com. The Support area provides a fast way to get questions answered; the Sample area offers free evaluation samples of any Microchip device; microchipDIRECT provides 24-hour pricing, ordering, inventory and credit for convenient purchasing of all Microchip devices and development tools; finally, the Training area educates customers through webinars, sign-ups for local seminar and workshop courses, and information about the annual MASTERs events held throughout the world.

About Microchip Technology

Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP) is a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, providing low-risk product development, lower total system cost and faster time to market for thousands of diverse customer applications worldwide. Headquartered in Chandler, Ariz., Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality. For more information, visit the Microchip website at www.microchip.com.

Note: The Microchip name and logo is a registered trademark of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies.

Photo available through editorial contact.

Source: Microchip Technology Inc.

Released February 4, 2008