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As the technological landscape evolves, semiconductors are the backbone behind new, advanced devices, leading to a growing demand for skilled semiconductor engineers. predicts the global industry will need to fill over 1 million additional semiconductor jobs by 2030, equivalent to 100,000 jobs annually, making workforce development programs increasingly vital to modernize our society.

The CHIPS Act set a fire under semiconductor companies to ensure education and training programs align with rising industry needs, leading to top companies prioritizing workforce development programs. In addition to properly preparing students for the real world, these programs help diversify and strengthen the workforce, attract more professionals to semiconductor careers, and expand the talent pool to achieve economic goals.   

By enabling access to cutting-edge technologies, developing shared programs, and partnering on advanced collaborations, ÁùºÏ²ÊÖ±²¥¿ª½± Academic & Research Alliances (SARA) is helping to fulfill the industry¡¯s needs by supporting universities to build a diverse semiconductor workforce ready to invent the technology of the future. SARA¡¯s University Software Program enables academic institutions to access  cutting-edge technology, training, and classroom materials to advance their education and fundamental research with the intent to prepare highly skilled graduates. ÁùºÏ²ÊÖ±²¥¿ª½± also recognizes the driving force of researchers in the semiconductor industry and has formed research alliances with key universities.

Spanning several regions, ÁùºÏ²ÊÖ±²¥¿ª½± has passionate individuals spearheading each program and partnership to drive the industry forward by educating professors, industry professionals, and students. Read on to learn more about SARA¡¯s workforce development activities.

Addressing the Demand for Semiconductor Talent Across Different Regions

The supply and demand for talent is a growing obstacle. 

¡°There are two issues here. One is quality and the other is quantity. Thanks to artificial intelligence and machine learning, technology has been developing so fast that universities face challenges educating students [to equip them] with knowledge and skills to meet evolving industry standards. In terms of quantity, the demand for semiconductor talent is multiplying around the world,¡± says Anna Hsu, senior program manager, who oversees SARA in the Taiwan, Middle East, and North Africa (MENA) regions.

In Taiwan, ÁùºÏ²ÊÖ±²¥¿ª½± has fostered relationships with government entities to help fund academic programs and support industry research as well as introduced the successful Purple 100 Program. This program trains around 100 participants annually, helping users become familiar with front-end and back-end design and job-matching students to customers once certification is complete. Another example of industry/academia collaboration in Taiwan took place on March 29,  2024, when to establish the NYCU-ÁùºÏ²ÊÖ±²¥¿ª½± EDA/AI Research Center to foster co-innovation and advancement of semiconductor and AI technologies. Through this collaboration, ÁùºÏ²ÊÖ±²¥¿ª½± and the university aim to build an advanced simulation and IC design environment with smart/AI digital twin capabilities to enrich the teaching and hands-on research and design experience for students. 

Over in Armenia, the ÁùºÏ²ÊÖ±²¥¿ª½± team predicted the need for industry education far ahead of other leading semiconductor companies. They developed the ÁùºÏ²ÊÖ±²¥¿ª½± Armenia Education Department, a workforce development initiative that started over two decades ago to develop a well-rounded curriculum in IC design and EDA for both bachelor¡¯s and master¡¯s programs. Patrick Haspel, the global director of SARA, described the program as essential in comparing the current curriculum with the skills required: 

¡°We¡¯ve partnered with Armenian universities to develop lecture material and labs for professors to use in the classroom to close the skill gap. It¡¯s impressive to see the outcome and how these labs are now being used and made available to classrooms globally.¡± ¡ªPatrick Haspel, Global Director of SARA

Over in India, the talent gap is an opportunity to introduce fresh faces to the industry while increasing adoption of ÁùºÏ²ÊÖ±²¥¿ª½± technology. ¡°With more students learning and using ÁùºÏ²ÊÖ±²¥¿ª½± technology, it reduces the training and upskilling cost for our customers as well as increases the support that our customers look for. Obtaining good talent for ÁùºÏ²ÊÖ±²¥¿ª½± and the ecosystem will become easier as adoption of SARA curriculum and support will help students become industry ready,¡± says Sankalp Singh, University Program manager for the SARA India region.

While India is known as a powerhouse in design, the SARA program helps give the region opportunities to be part of the end-to-end solution as well. ¡°Now is the right time to go after the bigger picture,¡± said Singh. ¡°In India, we¡¯re taking a holistic approach and have added close to 30+ institutions and started working with them on curriculum review and enhancement.¡±

Additionally, our relationship with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, one of India¡¯s premier technology institutes, has resulted in our sponsorship of the ÁùºÏ²ÊÖ±²¥¿ª½± Semiconductor Lab for Virtual Fab ÁùºÏ²ÊÖ±²¥¿ª½±, for which we are providing course content, training, and hardware and software. The lab will be available by the end of the year and provide students opportunities to learn about process technologies, materials, and device architecture, with the aim of workplace readiness in the semiconductor industry upon graduation.

The image below shows executives from IIT Bombay and ÁùºÏ²ÊÖ±²¥¿ª½± celebrating the recent inauguration of the lab at the IIT Bombay campus in Mumbai, India.

Paving the Way Toward Accessible Education

The industry is constantly changing and becoming more advanced every day. To address the talent gap, we must work together to ensure university curriculums can keep up with this evolution and that more students are trained in EDA tools from the beginning of their education to reduce the learning curve when they enter the workforce. These programs are also a great way for professionals to give back to society and their alma mater by helping and supporting the next generation as they become part of the semiconductor industry.

Combining in-person workshops by ÁùºÏ²ÊÖ±²¥¿ª½± employees, hands-on resources, and training in ÁùºÏ²ÊÖ±²¥¿ª½± tools, there¡¯s no doubt that SARA programs are making a positive global impact. Cata Fielder, communications specialist for SARA Latin America, noted, ¡°Students are thrilled because it is their first approach to the ¡®real world,¡¯ and professors see the programs as a great opportunity for ÁùºÏ²ÊÖ±²¥¿ª½± tools to be amplified in different regions.¡± 

ÁùºÏ²ÊÖ±²¥¿ª½± is proud to be part of the ecosystem of industry players, governments, and academic institutions coming together to bridge the gap between supply and demand for skilled engineers worldwide. We¡¯re eager to expand our partnerships further and reach even more regions to inspire and foster the next generation of technologists and innovators, wherever they may be.