Fountain Hills, Arizona, VEX® Robotics Competition

Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP):

The Media Are Invited to Attend the

Fountain Hills, Arizona, VEX^® Robotics Competition

March 3, 2012

9:45 a.m. to 7 p.m.

16100 Palisades Blvd.

Fountain Hills, AZ 85268

Click here for a map.

WHAT:

• High-school robotics competition (27 teams participating)
• Excellence Award-winning teams will qualify for VEX Robotics World Championship on April 18-21, 2012, in Anaheim, Calif.; tournament winners will qualify for the CREATE Foundation Championship of the Americas in Omaha, in March 2012
• Free and open to the public

*** INTERVIEW/PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES ***

• Still and video photography permitted
• Media interview opportunities with VEX students and their mentors from the community

Chandler, Ariz.-based Microchip Technology Inc. is the Official Sponsor of the Fountain Hills, Arizona, VEX competition and Southern Arizona VEX Robotics Competition. Microchip’s PIC18F8520 8-bit microcontroller is featured in VEX’s autonomous and dual-control starter bundles, while Microchip’s C Complier software is offered as a programming option.

For more information about Microchip Technology, visit http://www.microchip.com/get/CJ3Q.

For more information and to schedule interviews, contact:

Michelle Miley, Senior Public Relations Specialist

Microchip Technology Inc.

(480) 792-4111

michelle.miley@microchip.com

High-res VEX^® Robotics Logo available through contact, or Flickr:

http://www.microchip.com/get/9CTP

More information about Fountain Hills VEX^® Robotics Competition:

http://www.microchip.com/get/98XH

More information about Southern Arizona VEX^® Robotics Competition:

http://www.microchip.com/get/49PA

Tags / Keywords: STEM, robotics competition, VEX

About the Robotics Education and Competition Foundation (http://www.microchip.com/get/VH8D)

The Robotics Education and Competition Foundation exists to connect students, mentors and schools in every community to a variety of successful and engaging technology-based programs. Our goal is to provide these programs with services, solutions and a community that allows them to flourish in a way that fosters the technical and interpersonal skills necessary for students to succeed in the 21st century. Whether it's a competitive event, workshop, camp or conference, we understand the unprecedented level of passion and commitment it takes to create, maintain and execute such programs. The Robotics Education and Competition Foundation is committed to promoting technology and related student and professional advancement so that one day these programs become accessible to all students and all schools in all communities.

About VEX^® Robotics (http://www.microchip.com/get/730J)

The VEX^® Robotics Design System offers students an exciting platform for learning about areas rich with career opportunities, spanning Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). These are just a few of the many fields students can explore by creating with VEX Robotics technology. Beyond science and engineering principles, a VEX Robotics project encourages teamwork, leadership and problem solving among groups. It also allows educators to easily customize projects to meet the level of students’ abilities. The affordable VEX platform is expanding rapidly, and is now found in middle schools, high schools and university labs around the globe. Robotics hobbyists also appreciate the advanced capabilities of the VEX System.

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/CJ3Q).

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