VLSI Design and Semiconductor technology are becoming the centrepiece of every technology discussion. While the countdown for VLSI Design Conference 2025 begins, what do the industry experts say? General Chairs of the event, Navin Bishnoi, Marvell Technology; Srikanth Settikere, Microchip Technology; and Rajeev Kumar Srivastava, NXP Semiconductors, speak to EFY.
Q. How do you view India’s current semiconductor ecosystem from product design, manufacturing, and talent perspective?
A. India’s semiconductor ecosystem is rapidly evolving, as it is already recognised as a global leader in product design. Significant strides are occurring in manufacturing, supply chain, and talent development, too. The country boasts a robust pool of skilled engineers. Over 100 multinational corporations such as Marvell, NXP, Microchip, Intel, AMD, and Nvidia have established extensive R&D centres in India, leveraging this talent base. From a domestic fabless design companies’ perspective, India excels in IP generation and semiconductor product design. Companies focus on cutting-edge technologies and architectures, including AI-driven solutions, system-on-chip (SoC) designs for mobility, and advanced communication systems. Moreover, the incentives under the India Semiconductor Mission for manufacturing and Design Linked Incentive for fabless design and IP are helping this ecosystem traverse a promising trajectory.
Q. How can we capitalise on India’s $500 billion electronics and $100 billion semiconductor markets by shifting from intermediaries to direct business for domestic and global companies?
A. India’s extensive reliance on semiconductors and electronics spans two parallel infrastructure developments: physical and digital. By leveraging these cases, we can develop products that meet specific requirements and cost considerations and later also be adapted for other regions. India must focus on building relevant product companies and a robust semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem to capitalise on the market opportunities. This includes building a domestic product companies’ ecosystem, which will create direct demand and business for all semiconductor companies. It will not only attract global ones to establish fabrication units in India through incentives and favourable policies but also foster a fabless ecosystem where design and manufacturing are closely integrated. This can help reduce reliance on intermediaries but will require investment and incentives for product development similar to the manufacturing incentives.
Q. Talent is a key topic in global semiconductor discussions, with the industry facing a shortage of good candidates while students struggle to find opportunities. Where do you see the gaps: quantity, quality, or both?
A. There is a mismatch in supply and demand. While India produces a large number of engineering graduates annually, only a fraction of them specialise in semiconductor domains like very-large-scale integration (VLSI), embedded systems, and chip design. Semiconductor careers are not as well-known or aspirational as software development roles, leading to fewer students pursuing this field. Moreover, most semiconductor opportunities are concentrated in a few cities, limiting accessibility for talent from other regions. Coming to quality, improvement through updated curricula, practical training, and stronger industry-academia collaboration is essential in education. VLSI is focusing to ensure that each student experiences a tape-out as part of their degree programme, which will help them apply theoretical knowledge to real-world applications.
Q. What initiatives are being taken by the government and organisations like the VLSI to address these challenges for semiconductor talent?
A. The VLSI Society of India, with support from both state and central governments, has established many regional chapters nationwide. These work towards bridging the gaps between academia and the semiconductor industry by offering the necessary support to educate and train engineering students in the latest chip design and manufacturing technologies. In a pathbreaking move, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has approved an undergraduate course in Electronics and VLSI Design with a great curriculum. This course, supported by the VLSI Society of India, leading institutions, companies, and the government, is one of the most unique programmes worldwide. More than 150 institutions have adopted it, which will immensely help address the quantity and quality challenges.
Q. India is advancing in semiconductor manufacturing, but most talent is focused on design. How can we build a workforce for manufacturing at both the engineering and technician levels?
A. Creating a workforce for semiconductor manufacturing necessitates a comprehensive approach. This involves developing specialised training programmes focused on manufacturing skills like wafer fabrication, lithography, deposition, metrology, yield analysis, packaging, and testing. Establishing apprenticeship opportunities and collaborations between educational institutions and industry is essential. This should be especially focused on countries that excel in semiconductor manufacturing. Such partnerships can facilitate industrial training, short-term onsite deployments, and expat programmes, allowing the Indian workforce to learn from global leaders.
Q. VLSI Design Conference is India’s oldest and largest in chip design and semiconductor technology, with 40 years of legacy. What is your vision for VLSID-2025?
A. Our vision for VLSID-2025 is to build a favourable environment for innovation and collaboration in the semiconductor industry, where academia, industry, and government can unite to tackle the challenges and seize opportunities in varied fields of the sector, including VLSI design. Additionally, we envision VLSID as a platform to celebrate successes, from solving complex problems to creating new products. This conference sets the stage for a collective push towards a future where technology responsibly serves humanity and the planet.
Q. Can you give us an overview of the theme ‘Silicon meets AI – Sustainable Innovations in Accelerated Computing, Secure Connectivity, and Intelligent Mobility’? What inspired this theme for the 2025 conference?
A. The theme highlights the convergence of semiconductor technology and artificial intelligence. We are witnessing a pivotal moment where AI technology is driving changes across all sectors, like data centres, automotive, healthcare, and smart cities. It draws inspiration from that impact.
Q. How does this year’s conference aim to address the current challenges and opportunities in the semiconductor and AI industries?
A. This year’s conference will tackle the challenges and opportunities in the semiconductor and AI industries through various keynote sessions, panel discussions, technical presentations, research papers, and tutorials. Topics will cover AI-driven design automation, sustainable computing, advanced connectivity, and emerging technologies such as quantum computing and neuromorphic computing. Additionally, we will host themed deliberations on topics like fabless design, semiconductor manufacturing, startups, academic research, and design contests using the latest development boards from leading semiconductor companies.
Q. How will the conference address talent creation for both India and the global market?
A. The conference is promoting talent creation through dedicated sessions focused on education and workforce development. Our collaborators, including educational institutions and industry partners, aim to address the gap between academic training and industry requirements. Initiatives such as the VLSID Fellowship, student research forums, and design contests will offer students and young professionals the chance to showcase their skills and network with industry leaders. Additionally, we are offering over 30 tutorials across more than 15 themes to introduce different semiconductor topics to students and early-career professionals.
Q. What are the key milestones you hope to achieve through this conference in terms of industry impact and innovation?
A. At VLSID-2025, we aspire to achieve some of our goals, including advancing cutting-edge research, fostering industry-academia collaborations, and promoting innovative semiconductor technology and AI solutions. Our programme will support global supply chains and position India as a leader in sustainable computing, secure connectivity, and intelligent mobility. We strive to enhance knowledge exchange, boost engineering talent, and strengthen the competitiveness of the semiconductor industry both in India and globally.
Please join the VLSI Design Conference-2025 at Leela Palace, Bengaluru, from 4 to 8 January 2025.
