Tamil Nadu has unveiled the ‘School of Semiconductor’ initiative, aiming to position the state as a national hub for semiconductor innovation and talent development. Launched on Friday, the program will be anchored at India’s first in-situ semiconductor processing facility, located on the Central Polytechnic Campus in Taramani.
Backed by a ₹100-crore seed grant from the state government, the new Centre for Advanced Semiconductor Technologies will house a small-scale, production-grade fabrication unit to support applied research, rapid prototyping, and technology localisation. It will also function as a skilling centre and startup incubator to help close the semiconductor talent gap in India.
The initiative will be implemented in collaboration with IIT Madras and leading corporate partners from the semiconductor industry, ensuring strong academic-industry synergy to drive innovation, research, and workforce development. “This is part of CM M K Stalin’s vision to leverage Tamil Nadu’s highly educated workforce to build a globally competitive semiconductor ecosystem,” said Industries Minister T R B Rajaa.
“Our goal is to make Tamil Nadu the singular, indispensable source of semiconductor talent — nationally and globally.”
The facility aims to train 4,500 students in two phases through specialised modules lasting 2 to 6 weeks. In the first phase, 2,000 students will be trained in advanced semiconductor design and fabrication techniques under initiatives such as ‘Naan Mudhalvan’.
The curriculum will focus on translational research and real-world applications in key sectors like electric mobility, data centres, and space technology. Training will cover six to seven critical roles—from technicians to fab managers. “We will operationalise the centre at the earliest,” said IIT Madras Director, Prof. V. Kamakoti.
The initiative also plans to explore collaboration with the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). This talent development effort is a central pillar of the Tamil Nadu Semiconductor Mission 2030, announced in the state’s 2025–26 budget.
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