Tamil Nadu and IIT Madras have launched the ‘School of Semiconductor’ initiative, combining R&D, skilling, and startup support to strengthen India’s semiconductor ecosystem.
Tamil Nadu has officially launched a dual-pronged semiconductor strategy, pairing advanced R&D infrastructure with targeted workforce development. At the heart of this initiative is the newly announced Centre for Advanced Semiconductor Technologies, established in collaboration with IIT Madras. The Centre will be located at the Central Polytechnic Campus in Chennai.
Announced on August 1 by Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa and IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti, the Centre marks the first major step under the state’s ‘School of Semiconductor’ initiative—an effort to create a sustainable talent pipeline across the semiconductor value chain.
A key feature of the Centre is India’s first in situ semiconductor fabrication processing facility. This small-scale, production-grade fab will support advanced research and prototyping while also serving as a practical training ground. The Government of Tamil Nadu has committed an initial Rs 100 crore seed grant to establish and operationalise the facility.
“With this initiative, our focus is on developing human capital in this sector and building a globally competitive semiconductor workforce in Tamil Nadu,” said T.R.B. Rajaa. “From fabless design to equipment manufacturing, from R&D to startups, and from technician training to advanced engineering, we are creating opportunities for every layer of talent. Our vision is to make Tamil Nadu the singular, indispensable source of highly-skilled talent required for the booming semiconductor industry across the nation and the world.”
The newly announced School of Semiconductor programme aims to train over 4,500 professionals in its first phase through short-term, modular courses lasting between two and six weeks. The training will be jointly implemented by the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation and the Department of Industries, with support from IIT Madras and corporate stakeholders in the semiconductor ecosystem.
Beyond education, the Centre is designed to promote localisation of semiconductor technologies, enable prototyping and productisation, and incubate early-stage startups. It will also emphasise translational research with a focus on practical applications in emerging sectors including electric mobility, data infrastructure, and space technology.
The government also plans to explore collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to align the state’s efforts with the broader national semiconductor strategy.
By addressing both industry needs and workforce readiness, the state’s approach spans the full spectrum—from technician-level skilling to high-end innovation. The initiative is expected to support capability-building across Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), encourage interdisciplinary R&D, and foster the development of advanced technologies, including diamond-based power electronic devices.
The Centre’s rollout is expected to act as a launchpad for Tamil Nadu’s ambition to be recognised not only as a manufacturing hub but also as a semiconductor talent capital.
