A fresh collaboration between industry and academia is taking shape as India pushes ahead with its semiconductor goals. The focus is now shifting beyond infrastructure to building a skilled workforce that can support long-term growth in chip manufacturing and assembly.
HCL Group has partnered with Foxconn to develop skilled talent for India’s semiconductor ambitions. The partnership aims to address the critical talent gap in the sector by combining Foxconn’s manufacturing expertise with HCL’s educational capabilities.
Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson of HCL Group, said the companies plan to build and train a significant portion of the required workforce over the next few years.
Core engineering demand at OSAT facility
The upcoming outsourced semiconductor assembly and test facility in Greater Noida will require a core team of 600–800 high-tech engineers. The collaboration was formally announced on Saturday when HCL and Foxconn laid the foundation stone for the new semiconductor unit. The facility is expected to become commercially operational by 2028.
HCL investment and education support
HCL is investing ₹3,700 crore to set up the OSAT unit, targeting what it described as “huge domestic market demand” driven by India’s expanding electronics ecosystem. The company currently employs nearly 55,000 people in the state.
HCL also runs Shiv Nadar University, a research-focused institution with a strong emphasis on STEM education. The university plans to introduce relevant curriculum and training programs over the next few years to support the semiconductor talent pipeline.
Sector momentum and skill challenges
India’s semiconductor sector has gained momentum due to government initiatives such as the India Semiconductor Mission, which carries an outlay of ₹76,000 crore. Despite this push, industry experts say the lack of locally available skilled talent remains a major challenge.
The sector requires professionals with expertise in handling specialty materials, industrial gases, and advanced semiconductor equipment. Addressing this gap is seen as essential for building a sustainable and competitive semiconductor ecosystem in India.
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