Embedded Systems Institute To Become ARM Approved Training Center In China

The fifth ARM ATC in mainland China enables electronics engineers in the Pearl River Delta to improve advanced embedded systems design capability

GUANGDONG, CHINA AND CAMBRIDGE, UK - Jan. 24, 2006 - Embedded Systems Institute (ESI), an institute of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in Nansha IT Park in Guangdong, China, and ARM [(LSE: ARM); (Nasdaq: ARMHY)] today announced that ESI has been certified as an ARM® Approved Training Center (ATC). ESI will provide training programs to university students and industry professionals to help them strengthen their capability in ARM Powered® design and development.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reported that China has overtaken the US as the world's leading exporter of information technology goods with a total of $180 billion worth of products in 2004 (OECD, December 12, 2005). However, the majority of this value was contributed by overseas investments in China. Meanwhile, China's trade deficit of electronic components continued to ascend to a total of $62 billion in 2004 (21st Century Business Herald, December 24, 2005). Today, Chinese companies are striving to improve their competitiveness in designing and developing products that require advanced embedded systems expertise.

Being one of the most popular embedded system architectures, in China as well as around the world, ARM has increasingly become the Chinese engineers' processor of choice when developing SoC solutions. By certifying Approved Training Centers in China, ARM ensures that Chinese electronic engineers can receive training on ARM Powered SoC design and development, which fosters local innovation in electronics design.

"The Pearl River Delta is the center of electronics manufacturing in China. Many companies now develop products based on ARM technologies to gain a competitive edge. However, one of the biggest challenges for them is to recruit experienced engineers," said Dr. David Young, director of ESI. "By being certified as an ARM Approved Training Center, ESI will be able to provide training courses on embedded system design and applications to students and professionals, especially those who are based in this region, to improve their embedded systems design and development capability."

"The ARM Approved Training Centers today play a significant role in enabling people to access and learn about ARM technologies, enabling a healthy industry ecosystem in China," said Dr Jun Tan, president of ARM China. "Being the fifth ARM ATC in mainland China, ESI will bring its expertise of ARM Powered system design to engineers. We believe the initiative by all five ATCs will ultimately contribute to the Chinese semiconductor industry's efforts in developing more products that are not only made but also designed in China."

About Embedded Systems Institute

Led by the Institute Director, Dr. K. David Young of the Applied Technology Center, HKUST, Embedded Systems Institute (ESI) has started its operations in the Nansha IT Park (NITP) at the beginning of July 2004. ESI provides undergraduates with trainings which are complementary to the regular curriculums. To support the industrial sector, ESI organizes training programs for experienced professionals, workshops for management executives and training courses for hardware/software engineers. ESI also has the capabilities to embark on product prototyping projects to further assist the companies in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta. More information on EIS is available at http://www.esi.ust.hk.

About ARM

ARM designs the technology that lies at the heart of advanced digital products, from wireless, networking and consumer entertainment solutions to imaging, automotive, security and storage devices. ARM's 16/32-bit RISC microprocessors, data engines, peripherals, software and tools, combined with the company's broad Partner community, provide a total system solution that offers a fast, reliable path to market for leading electronics companies. More information on ARM is available at http://www.arm.com.