The government has approved IIT Bhubaneswar’s project entitled ‘Energy Efficient Mesh Architecture Based Indigenous Neuromorphic Processor for Extreme Edge IoT (internet of things) Applications’. It will be run for five years under the Chips to Startup Program.
According to the Minister of Electronics and Information technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the government has approved Indian Institutes of Technology, (IIT) Bhubaneswar, to run a project under chips to Startups programme. While addressing to the Media, in Orissa, the minister said that the Government's Chips to Startups Programme has been joined by IIT Bhubaneswar. This Programme intends to train 85,000 engineers in Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) and Embedded System Design technologies.
Not only IIT Bhubaneswar but the IIT Hyderabad is also planning to start an undergraduate course in VLSI design and technology, which will also create a pool of highly qualified semiconductor engineers and technical experts. Both the courses will play a significant role in the IT ministry’s plan to train 85,000 engineers for various roles in the semiconductor industry. Moreover the government also plans to train nearly 250,000 shop-floor technicians and junior engineers. The Government has partnered with Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute and The Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore for the training of Shop-floor technicians and Junior engineers.
Various global technology giants have advised the Government that a talent pool of engineers and shop-floor technicians should be created for the upcoming rise of demand in the semiconductor industry. They have shown keen interest in the IT ministry’s semiconductor mission. Also, these companies advised that India shift the focus to trainee level graduates as the country already has a good number of engineers at the senior level.
Previously this year, institutions were allowed to offer two new diploma and undergraduate-level courses. The All-India Council for Technical Education enabled various institutions to give a diploma in the integrated chip manufacturing process and a bachelor's degree in VLSI design and technology.
The official circular from the AICTE said that the cabinet had approved the Program for Development of Semiconductors and Display manufacturing ecosystem in India. This approval makes it relevant to set up semiconductors and display manufacturing ecosystems, which will eventually require a market-ready talent pool.
