As part of the India Semiconductor Mission’s expansion, MeitY focuses on skill development for India’s semiconductor sector, collaborating with IITs and private colleges.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is prioritising skill development and collaborating with top educational institutes as India’s semiconductor sector expands with the involvement of several multinational companies, according to a report by the Economic Times.
S. Krishnan, Secretary at MeitY, emphasised that the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) is driving training initiatives in collaboration with institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and private colleges, speaking to ET.
Krishnan explained that while semiconductor manufacturing at scale has yet to occur in India, there is a concerted effort to equip the workforce with the necessary skills, including potential training abroad where relevant facilities exist.
According to experts, a key challenge for the industry is the lack of a locally available skilled talent pool. The absence of skilled talent could hinder India’s aspirations to become a global semiconductor hub.
The semiconductor ecosystem, Krishnan noted, also requires expertise in speciality materials, gases, substrates, and associated equipment, which has prompted the development of focused training programmes.
As part of its ambitious semiconductor programme, the Indian government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, has approved five semiconductor manufacturing projects. A ₹760-billion budget backs these initiatives to develop a domestic semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem.
Companies involved include Micron Technology (US), Tata Electronics, Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test, Kaynes Semicon, and CG Power, in partnership with global players like Japan’s Renesas Electronics and Thailand’s Stars Microelectronics.
Launched in 2021, the ISM is designed to incentivise India’s semiconductor sector and promote strategic collaborations. It covers areas such as semiconductor fabrication, packaging, display technologies, and testing.
India aims to build a resilient semiconductor infrastructure in response to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, with projections suggesting the market will reach $109 billion by 2030.
