Under Chips to Startups (C2S), India made significant progress towards its target of training 85,000 semiconductor engineers;

**Executive Summary** The Ministry of Electronics & IT's "Chips to Startups" (C2S) initiative has made significant progress towards training 85,000 semiconductor engineers, with students across India gaining practical experience. The India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 aims to expand this program to 500 academic institutions to build a continuous talent pool. The document highlights the growing global demand for semiconductor professionals and India's ambition to become a global semiconductor hub. **Key Points / Main Content** * **Progress and Targets:** * India has made significant progress in its 10-year target of training 85,000 semiconductor engineers under the "Chips to Startups" (C2S) initiative. * Currently, 315 academic institutions are involved, with students actively gaining experience in semiconductor design, fabrication, packaging, and testing. * The India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 aims to expand the scheme to 500 academic institutions. * **Training Infrastructure and Tools:** * World-class Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools supported by companies like Synopsys, Cadence, Siemens, Renesas, Ansys, and AMD are available in 315 academic institutions. * Students are receiving hands-on experience across the entire chip design process, from design to fabrication, packaging, and testing, at the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), Mohali. * The initiative has evolved into the world's largest open-access EDA program, recording over 1.85 crore hours of EDA tool usage. * **Industry Context and Opportunities:** * The global semiconductor industry is projected to grow from USD 800-900 billion to USD 2 trillion, creating a demand for approximately 2 million skilled professionals. * This presents significant employment opportunities for India's youth. * **National Ambition:** * The program aims to build a strong and continuous pool of trained talent in semiconductor design, fabrication, packaging, and testing across all states. * The Government of India is committed to building a strong and self-reliant ecosystem in the semiconductor sector. * Through talent development, infrastructure creation, and industry collaboration, India aims to establish itself as a global semiconductor hub. **Impact Analysis** **Students** * **Impact:** Gaining practical experience and hands-on training in semiconductor design, fabrication, packaging, and testing through access to world-class EDA tools and facilities. This enhances their employability in a growing global industry. * **Action Required:** Continue to actively engage in the semiconductor design programs offered by participating academic institutions. **Academic Institutions** * **Impact:** Access to advanced EDA tools and training resources, enabling them to offer comprehensive semiconductor education and research opportunities. Expansion to 500 institutions will broaden reach. * **Action Required:** Facilitate student participation and leverage the provided tools and infrastructure for training and skill development. **Government of India (Ministry of Electronics & IT)** * **Impact:** Achieving progress towards national targets for semiconductor engineer training, fostering technological capability and self-reliance, and positioning India as a global semiconductor hub. * **Action Required:** Continue to support and expand the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 and related initiatives. **Semiconductor Industry (Global and Domestic)** * **Impact:** Access to a growing pool of skilled talent, which is crucial for meeting the increasing demand in the global semiconductor market. * **Action Required:** Collaborate with academic institutions and the government to provide industry insights and potential employment opportunities.

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