New Delhi : India’s ambition to become a global hub for semiconductor design and manufacturing is gaining strong momentum, with leading educational institutions in the National Capital Region playing a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of chip designers and engineers. As part of the Government of India’s India Semiconductor Mission, universities and technical institutes in Delhi are actively participating in training students in semiconductor design, testing and validation, thereby strengthening the country’s rapidly expanding semiconductor ecosystem.
Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw recently highlighted that India has made remarkable progress in achieving its ten-year target of training 85,000 engineers in semiconductor design. In just four years, the country has already built a robust framework for talent development through initiatives such as the Chips to Startups (C2S) programme, which focuses on training, up-skilling and workforce development in the semiconductor sector.
One of the key pillars of this initiative has been the deployment of world-class Electronic Design Automation tools across academic institutions. With support from global technology leaders such as Synopsys, Cadence, Siemens, Renesas, Ansys and AMD, these advanced tools have been made available in 315 universities and institutions across the country. Students are now able to design real semiconductor chips using industry-grade software, gaining practical experience that was previously limited to specialised laboratories and large corporations.
The initiative has also created an integrated learning ecosystem where student-designed chips are fabricated and tested at the Semiconductor Laboratory in Mohali. This process gives students hands-on exposure to the entire semiconductor value chain — from design and fabrication to packaging and testing. As a result, young engineers are gaining practical industry-level skills even before entering the workforce.
The scale of the programme is unprecedented. The open-access EDA initiative has already recorded more than 1.85 crore hours of tool usage for chip design training, making it the largest programme of its kind anywhere in the world. This widespread participation reflects the growing enthusiasm among Indian students to pursue careers in semiconductor technology.
Institutions across the country — from Assam to Gujarat and Kashmir to Kanyakumari — are actively participating in semiconductor design activities. In the next phase of expansion under Semicon 2.0, the government plans to extend the programme from 315 universities to 500 institutions, significantly expanding the talent pool and strengthening India’s capability in semiconductor design and development.
Within this nationwide effort, several prominent institutions in Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region have emerged as important contributors. These include the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, National Institute of Technology Delhi, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi, Delhi Technological University, Netaji Subhas University of Technology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women, Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies and DV2JS Innovation LLP.
Students from these institutions are already designing semiconductor chips using advanced tools and training infrastructure, thereby contributing to India’s growing technological capabilities. Their work not only strengthens academic research but also prepares a highly skilled workforce capable of meeting the demands of the global semiconductor industry.
The importance of such initiatives becomes even more evident when considering the rapid expansion of the global semiconductor market. As the industry moves towards an estimated value of two trillion dollars in the coming years, demand for skilled professionals is expected to rise dramatically. Experts estimate that nearly two million semiconductor professionals will be required globally, presenting enormous employment opportunities for India’s youth.
By focusing on talent development, infrastructure creation and academic-industry collaboration, the Government of India is laying a strong foundation for the country’s semiconductor future. Through programmes like Chips to Startups and the broader Semicon 2.0 initiative, India is not only building domestic capabilities in chip design and manufacturing but also positioning itself as a global centre for semiconductor talent.
With institutions in Delhi and across the country actively participating in this effort, the vision of creating a vibrant semiconductor ecosystem in India is steadily moving from aspiration to reality.
No Comments: