The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) has partnered with Tata Electronics Private Limited to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) on its campus, focusing on semiconductor assembly, testing, marking and packaging (ATMP) education, research and skill development.
The collaboration, formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on October 30, 2026, aims to develop an industry-ready workforce and strengthen India’s semiconductor talent ecosystem, particularly in Assam and the Northeast.
The initiative comes amid India’s efforts to build domestic semiconductor manufacturing capabilities and develop a skilled workforce across the semiconductor value chain. ATMP is a critical segment of this ecosystem, involving the assembly, testing and packaging of semiconductor chips before they enter electronic products.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Rohit Sinha, Dean, Research and Development, IIT Guwahati, and Ranjan Bandyopadhyay, Chief Human Resources Officer, Tata Electronics, at the IIT Guwahati campus.
Industry-oriented semiconductor education
Under the partnership, IIT Guwahati will lead the development and delivery of specialised educational programmes, including diploma-level training and B.Tech-level engineering programmes in semiconductor ATMP.
The curriculum will incorporate practical, hands-on training to bridge the gap between academic learning and industrial requirements.
The two partners will also identify engineering colleges, universities and polytechnics across the region to extend access to semiconductor-focused education. Students from these institutions will receive opportunities for practical training, while faculty members will undergo specialised training to strengthen teaching capabilities in semiconductor technologies.
Tata Electronics will also provide training opportunities for students, alongside avenues for collaborative research involving undergraduate and postgraduate scholars.
Focus on research and regional talent development
The Centre of Excellence will facilitate joint development of industry-relevant course content, educational resources and specialised training programmes. It will also support research in semiconductor packaging, assembly, testing and related technologies.
The initiative is expected to expand opportunities for students beyond the IIT system by bringing engineering colleges and polytechnics across Assam and the Northeast into the semiconductor education ecosystem.
Commenting on the collaboration, Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director, IIT Guwahati, said the initiative would connect academic institutions, industry and students through specialised education, practical training and collaborative research.
He added that identifying institutions across Assam and developing semiconductor-focused curricula would broaden access to specialised technical education and strengthen the regional talent pipeline.
Building India’s semiconductor workforce
The partnership represents an industry-academia initiative to address one of the key requirements of India’s semiconductor ambitions: the availability of technically skilled manpower.
While investments in semiconductor fabrication facilities are essential, the growth of the sector also depends on trained engineers, technicians and research professionals in packaging, testing and allied technologies.
By combining IIT Guwahati’s academic and research capabilities with Tata Electronics’ industry expertise, the Centre of Excellence is expected to contribute to building a specialised talent base for India’s expanding semiconductor ecosystem.