Microchip Supports Arizona Science and Technology Festival with Open House, FIRST® Robotics “Duel in the Desert” Competition

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CHANDLER, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP), a leading provider of microcontroller, analog and Flash-IP solutions, today announced its Signature Collaborator and Copper Sponsorship support of the Arizona Science and Technology Festival (AZ SciTech Fest) with an Open House at Microchip’s headquarters in Chandler, Ariz., and the FIRST® robotics “Duel in the Desert” competition at Arizona State University (ASU).

Organized by the Arizona Technology Council Foundation, in partnership with ASU and the Arizona Science Center, the AZ SciTech Fest is a collaboration of more than 200 organizations in industry, academia, arts, community and K-12 education. The goal is to excite and inform Arizonans how science, technology and innovation drive the future of the state. Microchip’s Open House will take place at the Company’s headquarters at 2355 W. Chandler Blvd. in Chandler, Ariz., on Feb. 16 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. The free and open-to-the-public event will include family-friendly activities for all ages, live demonstrations of Microchip’s products at work—such as a real satellite—and a Virtual Fab Tour, where attendees can learn how microcontrollers are made. Microchip is a supporter of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education, and will have representatives from local FIRST, FIRST Lego® League and VEX® robotics teams demonstrating their robots at the event.

The free and open-to-the-public FIRST robotics Duel in the Desert competition will take place during the ASU College of Technology and Innovation’s “Maker Week,” a signature event of the AZ SciTech Fest. The event will take place Feb. 18 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Arizona State University’s (ASU’s) Polytechnic campus, located at 7001 E. Williams Field Rd. in Mesa, Ariz. Over a dozen Arizona FIRST teams will participate in a scrimmage previewing their robots for the upcoming FIRST Robotics Competition Arizona Regional March 23 – 24 at Hamilton High School in Chandler. FIRST Lego League and VEX robotics teams will also attend.

“Microchip is proud to be a Signature Collaborator and Copper Sponsor of the AZ SciTech Festival,” said Steve Sanghi, president and CEO of Microchip Technology Inc. “Arizona is a national leader in science and technology, which helps to bring educated and skilled professionals to our state, create jobs and keep our economy strong. Likewise, with FIRST and VEX Robotics, we’re increasing youth interest in science, technology, engineering and math, in order to drive this growth for the future.”

For more information about the Microchip Open House and the Duel in the Desert robotics competition, contact Carol Popovich at (480) 792-7938 or carol.popovich@microchip.com. For more information about the AZ SciTech Fest, visit http://www.microchip.com/get/NA4G.

About Arizona Science and Technology Festival

The Arizona SciTech Festival is the biggest Arizona celebration of innovation, to date. Over 250 organizations have partnered together to showcase Arizona’s leadership in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) through a series of hands-on activities, workshops, conversations, debates, exhibitions, concerts, guided walks and tours. Over 150 free events will take place in your neighborhood between Jan. 25 and Mar. 14, 2012. For more information, visit http://www.microchip.com/get/NA4G.

About Microchip Technology

Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP) is a leading provider of microcontroller, analog and Flash-IP solutions, 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 Web site (http://www.microchip.com/get/9TPJ).

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

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Satellite on International Space Station http://www.microchip.com/get/N8A3
Satellite in Vibration Testing http://www.microchip.com/get/S8UM

Tags / Keywords: Microchip, STEM, Arizona Science and Technology Festival, AZ SciTechFest, FIRST, VEX, robotics

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Microchip Technology Inc.
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Source: Microchip Technology Inc.

Released February 13, 2012