Lam Research Corporation, headquartered in the United States and renowned globally for its cutting-edge wafer fabrication equipment, has committed approximately $29 million (equivalent to Rs 241 crore) in software licenses over the next couple of years. This initiative aims to enhance the skills of 2,800 students. This commitment came as Lam Research Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Semiconductor Mission (ISM) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to groom the future workforce for the chip industry.
The agreement entails ISM's support in setting up infrastructure and covering operational expenses. This collaboration, outlined in a joint statement by the US and Indian governments at the White House in June 2023, marks the successful conclusion of the pilot project conducted in partnership with IISc. Furthermore, it establishes a framework for extending the initiative to various universities nationwide.
IISc will be responsible for training instructors at selected universities, while Lam Research Corporation will deploy a dedicated team of professionals to facilitate the program's expansion across India.
Rangesh Raghavan, Corporate Vice President and General Manager at Lam Research India, emphasized the importance of a virtual-physical fabrication environment, enabled by "Semiverse Solutions," in supporting India's endeavors to establish a robust semiconductor industry. These solutions leverage Lam's extensive portfolio, incorporating virtual technology, processing, and simulations, to create a borderless virtual learning and collaboration platform that encourages innovation and creativity.
Professor Srinivasan Raghavan, Chair of the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering at IISc, expressed confidence in the program's success, citing the placement of two participants from the pilot project in a leading global semiconductor manufacturing company.
Over a decade, the program aims to educate up to 60,000 Indian engineers in semiconductor fabrication technologies, addressing the significant talent gap anticipated in the semiconductor industry.
Akash Tripathi, CEO of ISM, highlighted the importance of effective skill development partnerships as India's semiconductor ecosystem continues to expand, ensuring sustained momentum in the sector's growth.
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