Semiconductor Mission 2.0: Chips to Startups program accelerates India’s engineering talent development

The Government of India is actively developing talent in the semiconductor sector through the Chips to Startups (C2S) program under the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 (ISM). Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Electronics and Information Technology and Railways, stated that India has made strong progress in just four years toward its 10-year goal of training 85,000 engineers in semiconductor design.

World-class tools now in academic institutions

The minister informed that Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools from top companies like Synopsys, Cadence, Siemens, Renesas, Ansys, and AMD are now available in 315 academic institutions across India. These tools allow students to gain practical experience in designing semiconductor chips, which are then fabricated and tested at the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) in Mohali, according to an official release.

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The entire chip development process begins with design and fabrication and ends with packaging and testing according to this practical method. The program has become the biggest open-access EDA program worldwide, as users have already logged more than 1.85 crore hours of EDA tool usage.

Students across India join the semiconductor journey

Students from every corner of India, such as Assam to Gujarat and Kashmir to Kanyakumari, are now actively participating in semiconductor design work. The participation of this group represents a key achievement that will drive India's technological development and self-sufficient capabilities forward.

Huge employment opportunities in a growing industry

The minister also explained that the worldwide semiconductor market will increase from its present valuation of $ 800–900 billion to reach USD 2 trillion. This expansion will create a global demand for approximately 2 million skilled workers, which will generate extensive job prospects for Indian youth working in chip design and fabrication, packaging and testing.

Expansion under India Semiconductor Mission 2.0

The government announced India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 to enhance this initiative, which will increase program coverage from 315 academic institutions to 500 educational institutions. The program will establish a continuous pipeline of qualified workers who will be available to all Indian states while creating a self-sustaining semiconductor industry.

Commitment to a global semiconductor hub

The minister explained that the Government of India will build a strong semiconductor industry through three essential components, including talent development, infrastructure development and partnerships with industry organisations. Through these initiatives, India plans to become a leading worldwide centre for semiconductor design and manufacturing, creating thousands of job opportunities and establishing the country as a global technology leader.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q1. What is the chip-to-startup (C2S) program?

A national project intended to equip engineers with semiconductor design training.

Q2. Who launched the C2S program?

ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation)

Q3. How many engineers is India planning to produce?

85,000 engineers over 10 years

Q4. How many academic institutions currently have EDA tools?

315 institutions across India

Q5. Which companies provide the EDA tools?

Synopsys, Cadence, Siemens, Renesas, Ansys, and AMD.

Q6. Where are the semiconductor chips fabricated and tested?

These semiconductor chips are fabricated and tested at the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) in Mohali.

Q7. What is the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 about?

An expansion of the program to 500 academic institutions.