In a significant move to bolster India’s semiconductor industry, the Indian government has joined forces with industry giants Siemens EDA, Synopsys, and Cadence to provide electronic design automation (EDA) tools to over 100 colleges. This collaborative initiative aims to bridge the talent gap in the chip design sector and ensure that graduating students are well-prepared for the evolving industry landscape.
The government’s Chips to Startups (C2S) program, launched in January 2022, is at the forefront of this effort, targeting the training of 85,000 individuals over a span of five years in Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) and embedded system design. Recognizing the critical role of EDA tools in chip design, the government invited applications under the C2S program, receiving responses from 100 academic institutions, research and development organizations, startups, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) last August.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Siemens EDA is actively involved in creating an EDA tools grid as part of a design-linked incentive scheme for chip startups. Simultaneously, Synopsys has partnered with prestigious institutions like IIT Bombay and the Indian Institute of Science, leveraging its Synopsys Academic & Research Alliances (SARA) program to develop talent for the chip industry.
Cadence, a key player in the EDA sector, has extended its suite of technologies to approximately 350 engineering colleges across India. These tools are being provided at subsidized rates, ensuring affordability for educational institutions and students alike. The move is particularly crucial given the anticipated shortage of skilled manpower in chip design by 2030, propelled by the surging global demand for chips.
The collaboration between the government and these industry leaders addresses the immediate skills gap and nurtures a future-ready workforce capable of contributing to the semiconductor ecosystem. This initiative aligns with broader plans to strengthen India’s semiconductor industry, including proposals for the establishment of additional semiconductor fabrication units within the country. The infusion of cutting-edge chip design tools into the education system empowers students and positions India as a key player in the global semiconductor landscape.
