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Building a Chip-Manufacturing Workforce
Context:
The global demand for semiconductors is growing exponentially, with their importance extending beyond economic and technological domains to national security and geopolitical influence.
More on News:
- Semiconductors are vital for modern defense systems, enabling advanced weaponry, surveillance technologies, and secure communications.
- Dependence on foreign semiconductor supplies risks export restrictions and compromises security, making domestic manufacturing critical for self-reliance and strategic autonomy.
- Control over semiconductor technology has also become a significant tool for geopolitical leverage, reshaping alliances, trade policies, and innovation trajectories worldwide.
India’s Ambitious Semiconductor Mission:
- Initiative: India is undertaking a large-scale, long-term initiative to establish a robust semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem.
- Investments: Significant financial investments reflect this commitment.
- At the Global Semiconductor Supply Chain Meet in September 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored the nation’s focus on advancing semiconductor production, supported by a dedicated INR 1 trillion research fund under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation to drive innovation.
- Integrated Policies: The National Policy on Electronics 2019 (NPE-2019), aligned with initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and ‘Digital India,’ aims to bolster the electronics system design and manufacturing (ESDM) sector, strengthening India’s role in the global market.
Workforce Development Challenges:
- Lack of Roadmap: A major obstacle to India’s semiconductor ambitions is the absence of a comprehensive roadmap for workforce development.
- Qualified Personnel: Manufacturing semiconductor chips requires a large pool of technically qualified personnel across various domains, such as construction, engineering, and technical operations.
- Infrastructure: Mobilising this workforce, offering competitive remuneration, and providing necessary residential infrastructure—especially for greenfield sites located away from existing manufacturing hubs—pose significant challenges.
Word-Map Framework:
- The ‘word-map’ framework proposed by experts outlines pathways for chip manufacturing workforce development.
- It serves as a blueprint for collaboration between public and private stakeholders at national, state, and local levels.
- By systematically managing personnel requirements and addressing barriers such as inadequate training and outdated curricula, India can align workforce development efforts with the industry’s evolving needs.
- Types of Work: Includes construction (e.g., welding, electrical work), engineering (e.g., process and equipment design), and technical operations (e.g., maintenance and repair).
- Personnel Requirements: Covers qualifications, training quality, workforce quantity, remuneration, location-specific availability, and living infrastructure.
- Impetus for Development: Involves drivers, norms, and barriers that must be managed through collaboration among educational institutions, industry, and governments.
- Sustainable Development Cycles: Workforce development must adapt continuously to technological and global changes, ensuring long-term alignment with industry needs.
Integrating Higher Education and Vocational Training:
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 provides a strategic framework to align education with workforce development. Key features include:
- Focus on STEM Education: Promotes interdisciplinary learning and research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, essential for high-tech industries like semiconductors.
- Integration of Vocational Training: Embeds skill-based learning into mainstream education, creating a well-rounded, industry-ready workforce.
- Industry-Academia Collaboration: Encourages partnerships between higher education institutions (HEIs) and industry for hands-on training, research, and innovation.
- National Research Foundation (NRF): Facilitates research-driven innovation and entrepreneurship in critical fields, including semiconductor technology.
Lessons from Other High-Tech Sectors:
- India’s experiences in sectors like nuclear energy, space exploration, IT, and biotechnology demonstrate its ability to develop a skilled workforce through higher education and targeted training.
- However, the accelerated timeline and technological complexity of semiconductor manufacturing require a more structured and proactive strategy.
- This includes developing curricula, establishing advanced laboratories, and ensuring timely approvals for training programs.
The Role of Central and State Governments:
- Central and state governments must collaborate to develop a national workforce pool while addressing local requirements.
- A national committee should oversee workforce development, ensuring alignment with India’s higher education policies and managing resources effectively.
- A shared framework, such as the word-map, can standardise strategies across states, facilitating knowledge transfer and coordinated action.
