Global Chipmakers Fast-Track Talent Development In India

While public discourse on the semiconductor industry is a recurring theme at both central and state level politics in India, the reality on the ground presents a more pressing picture. Sumit Kumar, Chief Strategy Officer at TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, told BW Businessworld a couple of months ago that India’s semiconductor industry urgently requires skilled individuals, particularly in fabrication roles. Kumar projected a demand for about 2-3 lakh skilled workers in the next 2-3 years to meet the industry’s needs. 

He had also conveyed a sense of hopefulness, predicting that the semiconductor sector could create close to 10 lakh job opportunities within the next 4 to 5 years. However, he also warned of a huge skills gap, with his company’s internal forecasts indicating a deficiency of 2.5 lakh to 3 lakh skilled workers by 2027 across the entire production process, including R&D, design, manufacturing, fabrication and advanced packaging and assembly-testing packaging (ATP).

Global Semicon Majors Step Up

In response to the skills and talent shortage, major players in the semiconductor industry, including Micron Technology, L&T Semiconductor and Lam Research are stepping up their efforts to fast-track talent development in India. These companies have rolled out comprehensive skilling initiatives designed to close the gap and prepare the next generation of semiconductor professionals. 

US-based Lam Research has been addressing the talent gap with its Semiverse Solutions portfolio. Its approach has been associated with recognising the high costs and safety concerns associated with traditional semiconductor education. The American chipmaking equipment provider introduced this virtual platform to democratise access to advanced nanotechnology training. 

“The Semiverse Solution initiative is a game-changer, offering students practical experience in semiconductor manufacturing through virtual labs and digital twins, which significantly reduces costs while maintaining safety and sustainability,” said Rangesh Raghavan, Vice President and General Manager of Lam Research India. 

As part of this initiative, Lam Research is donating nearly Rs 460 crore in software licenses over the next two years to train 3,200 students. The programme, which is being run in partnership with India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), also includes a “Train-the-Trainers” model at selected universities. ISM is supporting the establishment of infrastructure and operational costs.

While Micron’s upcoming ATMP plant at Sanand makes headlines every other month, the company is also taking giant strides in developing India’s semiconductor talent pool through various strategic partnerships and educational programmes. Their collaboration with IIT Roorkee has led to the establishment of a specialised lab focused on improving academic programmes and enabling research in chip design and technology. In addition, Micron’s partnership with NAMTECH (MoU has committed USD 110 billion by 2030) is focused on developing advanced semiconductor labs and clean rooms, providing hands-on training aligned with the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM). 

The US-based memory chip manufacturer is also investing in scholarships to support engineering students from diverse backgrounds, as well as partnering with UNICEF India (USD 4,08,000 initiative) to improve STEM education for underrepresented children in Karnataka and Telangana.

Meanwhile, L&T Semiconductor is contributing to the development of India’s semiconductor workforce through its flagship skilling programmes. The company’s iRISE programme offers young engineers hands-on experience across all semiconductor domains by preparing them to be productive from day one. 

“The iRISE program is designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry requirements, ensuring our engineers are equipped with the skills needed to tackle real-world challenges in the semiconductor industry,” said Sandeep Kumar, CEO at L&T Semiconductor Technologies.

L&T's chip-design subsidiary also offers internships that provide students with practical experience in addressing real-world semiconductor challenges, with many of these interns being absorbed into the company as full-time employees after graduation.

Intel, Tessolve, AMD and Applied Materials are among other global players who have rolled out initiatives to address the semiconductor talent and skills gap in the country.