IIT Gandhinagar is set to host the Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Research and Training Hub (SAMARTH), a dedicated semiconductor research and skilling centre backed by a combined ₹190 crore investment from the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Gujarat government's Department of Science and Technology, and IIT Gandhinagar. The facility, announced on 3 July, is expected to begin operations soon and aims to produce industry-ready semiconductor talent at scale.

What SAMARTH Will Do

The centre is designed to bridge the gap between academic training and industrial requirements in semiconductor manufacturing. Engineering students will receive hands-on, practical training to become 'fab-ready' — meaning they can step directly into semiconductor fabrication facilities upon graduation. Faculty members and working professionals will also be able to upskill through structured programmes.

Beyond degree-level education, SAMARTH will offer specialised short-term certificate courses, summer schools, and one-day exposure programmes aimed at introducing school and college students to semiconductor technologies at an early stage.

Scale and Training Targets

Over the next five years, SAMARTH plans to train more than 10,000 people. The breakdown includes 5,600 undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students; 1,500 technicians in vocational and technical education; 1,000 certificate programme participants; 230 faculty members; and 230 industry professionals through upskilling initiatives. An additional 2,700-plus students are expected to participate in summer schools and one-day outreach programmes.

Infrastructure and Laboratories

IIT Gandhinagar has already initiated procurement of equipment and is appointing consultants for construction and associated infrastructure. The facility will house laboratories for nano-fabrication, CMOS process training, semiconductor process and device design, device modelling, IC design and prototyping, and a dedicated device process characterisation facility for testing, inspection, and quality assessment of electronic devices and chip manufacturing processes.

To widen access, IIT Gandhinagar is preparing to sign memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with engineering colleges across Gujarat, enabling students from the state to enrol in programmes at nominal fees. The centre will also pursue collaborations with local and international partners for research, training, and workforce development.

Broader Policy Context

The hub aligns with India's Semiconductor Mission 2.0, under which the Centre has prioritised building a full semiconductor value chain — spanning design engineers, equipment manufacturers, and logistics. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated: 'Our goal is not limited to setting up just one factory, but to build an entire ecosystem. India is now focusing on the entire semiconductor value chain, from design engineers to machine manufacturers and logistics. The announcement of the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 is a major step in this direction. As production increases, the demand for materials and components within India will also rise, creating the biggest opportunity for domestic industries.'

This comes amid a broader national push to reduce dependence on imported chips following global supply chain disruptions that exposed India's vulnerability in electronics manufacturing. Gujarat has emerged as a frontrunner in this effort, with Gandhinagar already hosting semiconductor fabrication investments from Tata Electronics and Micron Technology. SAMARTH is intended to ensure that the talent pipeline keeps pace with the manufacturing capacity being built in the state.