In a strategic move to enhance the semiconductor talent pool in India, the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA) is set to deputize a group of professionals from various sectors, including industry and academia, to Singapore in the coming months. This initiative is part of a newly-signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Singapore Semiconductor Industries Association (SSIA).

Ashok Chandak, president of IESA, detailed the plan, "We are looking at sending some of the people on deputation to Singapore, with the SSIA's support. These individuals will spend three to six months in some of the fabs, receive training, and then return to implement their knowledge in India. This is how the overall skill and talent development concept is going to work," he said.

Data from the Ministry of Electronics and IT indicates a promising $110 billion semiconductor market opportunity in India by 2030, representing 10% of the global market. However, the industry faces a significant challenge: a shortage of skilled manpower. A recent study by TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship predicts a shortfall of 250,000-300,000 professionals in the sector by 2027, spanning research and development (R&D), manufacturing, design, and advanced packaging.

The collaboration between IESA and SSIA will also see experts from Singapore coming to India to train domestic talent. This training will be conducted in collaboration with member entities of the IESA.

Further, IESA is exploring similar partnerships with Taiwanese counterparts, though Singapore is preferred due to its advantages in language and connectivity. "One of the challenges we face with Taiwan is the language barrier, particularly at the lower-operator level. In contrast, this is not a big issue in Singapore, as more people speak English there," explained Chandak.

The partnership with SSIA will prioritize skilling-training and technology know-how exchanges between Indian and Singaporean firms. "There are several companies in Singapore with expertise across the semiconductor manufacturing value chain, from design to testing to wafer fab, assembly test marking operations, logistics, and distribution. We aim to leverage this talent and knowledge as part of our partnership," added Chandak.

This initiative is expected to significantly bolster India's semiconductor industry, ensuring a robust talent pipeline to meet the growing market demands.