Exhibit 32.1

                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

     I, George Perlegos, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that the Quarterly
Report of Atmel Corporation on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30,
2003 (i) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and (ii) that information contained in such
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the
financial condition and results of operations of Atmel Corporation.

     AUGUST 14, 2003                            By:   /S/ GEORGE PERLEGOS
                                                      ---------------------
                                                Name:    George Perlegos
                                                Title:   Chief Executive Officer