India is rising to the semiconductor challenge — and these skills are in demand

India is seizing its semiconductor moment, and from chipmakers to policymakers — stakeholders across the board are making moves to take on the chip challenge.

The Central government on Tuesday announced the ChipIN Centre, with a goal to provide access to state-of-the-art EDA (electronic design automation) tools to 85,000 students to design semiconductor chips. 

Meanwhile, this month Gujarat became the first state to implement a dedicated semiconductor policy, and Uttar Pradesh approved semiconductor projects worth ₹32,000 crore.

There are currently more than 5,000 companies in India that fall under the umbrella of the semiconductor industry, according to business decisioning data and analytics firm Dun & Bradstreet’s Data Cloud. These include direct chip manufacturers, component producers, and those involved in the broader electronics design, manufacturing, distribution display design, electronics, and innovation ecosystem. 

The number of registered businesses in the entire value chain has also seen a consistent uptick in the past decade, shows the data.

“Over 95% of businesses in India's semiconductor value chain are SMEs, highlighting the dynamic entrepreneurial spirit driving the industry's growth. The decentralisation of operations to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities reiterates the vast potential and emerging opportunities across the country,” says Avinash Gupta , Managing Director of Dun & Bradstreet India , sharing insights from D&B’s data cloud.

With an increased focus on making India a semiconductor powerhouse, skilled talent is a top priority.

India’s semiconductor industry is estimated to create one million jobs by 2026, Business Standard reports, citing NLB Services data. This includes around 3,00,000 jobs in chip semiconductor fabrication, 2,00,000 in Assembly, Testing, Marking, and Packaging (ATMP), and more roles in chip design, software development, system circuits, and manufacturing supply chain management, adds the report. 

“To ensure a sufficient talent pipeline for the semiconductor industry reskilling and upskilling become crucial. To reach the target of having one million skilled employees by 2026 for India to become the semiconductor hub, India will need to upskill 5,00,000 talents every year," says Sachin Alug , CEO of NLB Services .

Some chip firms have already kickstarted efforts to make this happen. Companies like AMD, Micron India, and LAM Research are hosting technical bootcamps for new hires, setting up research labs in universities, and introducing mentorship opportunities, The Economic Times reports.

The impact of India’s semiconductor talent isn’t just limited to the country, reports The Economic Times, citing Motilal Oswal data. India produces 8,00,000 fresh engineers every year, and with expertise in software development and design, they will help address global talent shortage in the space, adds the report.

What skills are chipmakers on the hunt for? 

Engineers, operators, technicians, and specialists in areas like procurement, quality control, and materials engineering will be in demand, according to NLB Services data. AMD India is focusing on upskilling for verification, physical design, microarchitecture, AI modelling, and LLM among other areas, said its Country Head Jaya Jagadish . She adds that with growing concerns about hardware vulnerabilities and cyberattacks, there is also a need for engineers who specialise in designing secure hardware.

Careernet data also indicates a high demand for specialised roles across design, manufacturing, and R&D, with a focus on positions including design engineers, verification engineers, system architects, quantum computing, and nanotechnology.

“From education to healthcare, climate change to inequality, these problems are becoming bigger and more complex. To tackle them effectively and at scale, we need social entrepreneurs and innovative leaders who are committed to creating positive change,” writes Abhishek Dubey , founder and CEO of Muskaan Dreams , in a post on LinkedIn.

But how does one get started?

"Who do you really care about passionately, that you'd do anything to make it work for them?" is a question Rahul Kulkarni , Chief Technologist at Samagra | Transforming Governance , suggests asking before making the shift to social impact. “The dynamics of the domain are different, but the traits as an entrepreneur that you need are not very different,” adds Gaurav Goel , founder and CEO of the governance consulting firm. According to him, what’s important when starting up in the social impact space is perseverance or the “staying power.”

“Social entrepreneurship is about solving real problems, and having a clear vision of the end goal will guide your decisions, keep you focused, and create a sense of urgency to make things happen,” says Abhishek Dubey , founder and CEO of Muskaan Dreams.

Dubey adds that a deep understanding of the problem will help founders in this sector create better sustainable solutions. 

Tune in here: How to get started with social entrepreneurship ft. Rahul Kulkarni, Gaurav Goel

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Reported by: Isha Chitnis

Community Manager: Rakshit Ravindranathan