President Droupadi Murmu virtually inaugurated the 3,200 sq-ft Semiconductor Training Fabrication Facility at IISc's Centre for Nano Science and Engineering in Bengaluru on June 3, 2026. Built with Ministry of Tribal Affairs support, the facility delivers hands-on chip fabrication training to tribal and underserved students. The first batch begins July 2026; since inception, the programme has trained 1,400+ tribal participants across 273+ institutions in 30+ states.
Semicon Hunt -> technology -> Indian Institute of Science
2026-06-05
President of India Droupadi Murmu virtually inaugurated the Semiconductor Training Fabrication (Fab) Facility at the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, on June 3, 2026, from Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The 3,200 sq-ft facility — established with support from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs — delivers hands-on semiconductor fabrication training to tribal and underserved students as part of India's chip workforce mission.
Unlike IISc's existing 10,000 sq-ft R&D cleanroom (primarily for research), the new Training Fab is purpose-built for skilling — training is the primary objective, with R&D as secondary. The facility equips students with practical exposure to semiconductor manufacturing processes, tools, and cleanroom practices using an NSQF-certified curriculum developed under the Skill India Mission and validated by industry partners. Semiconductor manufacturing, as Principal Investigator Prof. Sushobhan Avasthi noted, is 'fundamentally hands-on — it involves working with real machines, materials, chemicals and mechanical systems.'
The three-year programme (until March 2027) will train 1,500 students through online modules and approximately 600 students through in-person residential training at IISc, with free travel, lodging, and food for participants. Since the programme's inception, more than 1,400 participants from Scheduled Tribe communities have been trained, 48,000+ hours of specialised training delivered, and over 1,000 NSQF certifications awarded across 30+ states and 273+ institutions including IITs and NITs. The first batch under the new facility will begin in July 2026.
IISc already collaborates with Lam Research on curriculum and workforce training, and trained the first batch of 136 Tata Electronics graduate engineer trainees in 2024. The programme reflects India's recognition that a credible semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem requires more than capital investment — it requires a broad, deep, and diverse talent base reaching into communities historically excluded from high-technology sectors.
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