Guwahati: The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati conducted a Semiconductor Horizons workshop on May 1, aiming to foster innovation and research collaboration in semiconductor technology in Assam ahead of TATA Electronics' big foray into the state.

"The workshop focused on education, skill development, innovation, capacity building in the semiconductor domain, and technology transfer to strengthen the semiconductor ecosystem", an official said. The workshop featured sessions covering topics such as recent advancements in heterogeneous integration in semiconductor packaging, testing and assembly, CMOS technology, very-large-scale integration (VLSI), compound semiconductors, and optoelectronic devices.

The workshop was held against the development of TATA's new semiconductor plant near Guwahati developed at an investment outlay of Rs 27,000 crore. According to the firm, it is expected to create over 27,000 direct and indirect jobs in the Northeast Indian region.

Professor Vimal Katiyar, Dean of Research and Development, IIT Guwahati, urged everyone present to capitalize on this "significant occasion" and stressed the importance of collaborating, sharing ideas, and building meaningful relationships to advance innovation and propel growth within the semiconductor technology domain.

Dr. Charan Gurumurthy, Chief Executive of Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt Ltd, underscored the pervasive presence of semiconductors in daily lives and stressed the imperative of prioritizing their localization. "There should be foundational technical skills to translate advancements into practical applications and cultivate a skilled workforce to ensure quality and cost-effectiveness at scale while maintaining affordability and sustainability", he said.

The event also marked a milestone with the formalization of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IIT Guwahati and IIT Ropar, in partnership with the Electronics Sector Skills Council of India (ESSCI), focusing on semiconductor skill development, innovation, and start-ups.

The workshop was organized in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Education, Government of Assam, Viksit Bharat Abhiyan, and Tata Electronics.

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