SEMI is stepping up to nurture India's critical talent pipeline as the country embarks on an ambitious journey to become a global semiconductor powerhouse.
In an interview with Digitimes Asia, SEMI President and CEO Ajit Manocha revealed the industry body's plans to establish an India Semiconductor Academy, modeled after its successful American Semiconductor Academy initiative in the US.
"In the United States, we formed a partnership with universities called the American Semiconductor Academy, which is a network of more than 250 universities and community colleges offering semiconductor curricula," Manocha said. "Now in India, I've already started conversations regarding this."
According to Manocha, talent forms the backbone of any semiconductor ecosystem, and India possesses a tremendous raw talent pool that needs to be honed and made industry-ready.
"One of our goals with the academy is to bridge the gap between academia and industry, ensuring India's engineers are equipped with the right skills to drive the country's semiconductor revolution," Manocha said.
The academy will collaborate with India's top technical institutes and universities to develop specialized semiconductor curricula and training programs, leveraging SEMI's global expertise and partnerships.
The initiative seeks to address a critical bottleneck that has often hampered the growth of semiconductor hubs worldwide by creating a steady supply of industry-ready graduates.
"We've seen how the American Semiconductor Academy has helped the US nurture a robust talent pipeline," Manocha explained. "Now, we want to replicate that success in India, working closely with institutions like the IITs and NITs to create a sustainable talent ecosystem."
Beyond talent development, SEMI is positioning itself as a key facilitator for India's semiconductor aspirations. The industry body has already forged a strategic partnership with the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA), the country's premier electronics and semiconductor industry body, to jointly drive the sector's growth.
"Our collaboration with IESA will be the bedrock of our efforts in India," Manocha said. "Together, we will leverage SEMI's global playbook and IESA's deep local expertise to create a vibrant semiconductor ecosystem, attracting investments, fostering innovation, and ensuring India's competitiveness on the global stage."
This partnership will be crucial as India seeks to lure global semiconductor giants to set up shop in the country. While homegrown players like Tata have already announced ambitious fab projects, the real test will be in ensuring their successful execution - a challenge SEMI is eager to support.
"The success of these initial projects will be a litmus test for India's semiconductor ambitions," Manocha acknowledged. "We will work closely with our partners to share best practices, provide market intelligence, and ensure these pioneering efforts set the right foundation for India's semiconductor future."
As the country races to catch up with established hubs, the industry body's expertise and global network could prove to be the secret sauce India needs to realize its semiconductor dreams.
Attracting global semiconductor giants
SEMI's role in bringing international semiconductor players to India will also be crucial, as the country seeks to establish itself as a global hub.
While the industry body does not directly broker partnerships, Manocha believes its neutral networking platform can facilitate valuable connections.
"We bring roughly 1.5 million people together every year on various SEMI events for networking," Manocha said. "We provide the platform and let like-minded industry players connect and collaborate, whether through joint ventures, investments, or other forms of partnership."
The success of existing semiconductor projects in India, such as those announced by Tata, will be crucial in attracting more global players to the country, Manocha added. "If we do well, if we show that we are competitive, other companies will come," he said.
With a clear focus on talent development, ecosystem building, and project execution support, SEMI is positioning itself as a vital ally in India's quest to become a global semiconductor powerhouse.
