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India builds semiconductor talent pipeline alongside new chip plants
As semiconductor manufacturing expands across India, global chip technology companies are partnering with institutions to provide practical training, strengthen university research and prepare engineers for specialised roles across new facilities. India's semiconductor ambitions are entering a phase where building fabrication and packaging facilities is only one part of the challenge. The country also needs a specialised workforce capable of operating sophisticated manufacturing equipment, managing production processes and supporting the growing chip ecosystem. India already has a substantial pool of semiconductor engineers working in areas such as chip design, verification and advanced technology development for global companies. However, the emergence of large-scale fabrication and packaging facilities is creating demand for expertise that extends beyond design into manufacturing, equipment operations and process engineering. To address this requirement, the country has begun developing dedicated academic programmes. These include the B.Tech in Electronics (VLSI Design and Technology) and the Diploma in Integrated Circuit (IC) Manufacturing) introduced through the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). At the same time, major semiconductor technology companies are increasingly collaborating with Indian institutions to provide students and professionals with exposure to manufacturing environments and industry practices. Tokyo Electron plans semiconductor training centre Tokyo Electron (TEL), a major Japanese semiconductor manufacturing equipment company, is planning to establish a specialised training centre in Gujarat next year. The initiative is intended to contribute to India's developing semiconductor manufacturing workforce by preparing engineers for roles associated with fabs and semiconductor equipment. Toshiki Kawai, President and CEO, Tokyo Electron, said the company intends to contribute its expertise to India's semiconductor industry, drawing on its extensive global equipment installation base and intellectual property. “In particular, developing semiconductor talent including future fab engineers and equipment engineers is critically important for the sustainable growth of the industry in India. That is why, in partnership with the government of Japan, Tokyo Electron plan to establish a training centre in Gujarat next year,” Kawai said. The proposed centre is expected to focus on practical capabilities required by India's expanding manufacturing ecosystem, particularly for engineers who will work with semiconductor production equipment. Infineon and Micron expand industry-academia engagement Infineon Technologies is taking a hands-on approach through the NIELIT–Infineon Centre of Excellence on Semiconductor Manufacturing at NIELIT Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The facility has been established by the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, in collaboration with Infineon. The centre includes an industry-grade backend semiconductor manufacturing training line equipped with eight units of semiconductor manufacturing equipment supplied by Infineon. It is designed to give students, faculty members, researchers and working professionals practical exposure to manufacturing equipment and processes. Micron is meanwhile extending its engagement into university research and early-stage talent development. Alongside its planned ATMP facility in Sanand, Gujarat, Micron's University Research Alliance works with 20 universities across India through sponsored research and credit-bearing design courses. The company is also using the Micron Foundation, chip camps, STEM laboratories and its AI for All programmes to introduce technology learning to students at an earlier stage. “Through the Micron Foundation, our chip camps, STEM labs, and AI for all programmes, we reach children, tens of thousands of children long before they are in a university,” said Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO of Micron, during Semicon India 2026. These initiatives highlight how India's semiconductor strategy is increasingly linking infrastructure investment with long-term workforce development, spanning school education, higher studies, research and specialised manufacturing training.
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