Sanand: Micron Semiconductor India Pvt Ltd (MSIPL), the chip manufacturer that had committed to launching India’s inaugural semiconductor facility in Sanand, has initiated its first phase of recruiting talent from local educational institutions. Approximately 30 students have been offered employment or internship opportunities at the company.

Recent electronics and communications (E&C) graduates have secured annual packages ranging from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. Industry experts anticipate that about 150 recent engineering graduates from Gujarat will be absorbed into the burgeoning semiconductor sector by the end of the year.

Micron’s Sanand plant is a significant semiconductor project in India with an estimated investment of Rs 22,500 crore. The company is poised to establish one of the country’s most substantial Assembly, Testing, Marking, and Packaging (ATMP) plants at Sanand GIDC, expected to provide direct employment to 5,000 individuals and indirect employment to around 15,000 professionals.

Prof Usha Mehta, a professor and postgraduate coordinator for the very large-scale integration (VLSI) design course at the Electronics and Communications (E&C) Department at Nirma University, revealed that MSIPL has already made offers to 12 E&C graduating students. These students are trained in VLSI design, a crucial component of integrated circuit creation, and they were directly recruited from the campus.

Prof Mehta emphasized that the semiconductor sector offers promising opportunities for engineering graduates and mentioned that the company is returning for a second round of hiring, particularly for interns on a six-month basis.

At Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology (DAIICT) in Gandhinagar, the semiconductor manufacturer has recruited four students so far. Placement coordinators have expressed that this is just the beginning of the placement process, and more students are expected to be absorbed by MSIPL.

The offer currently includes a six-month paid internship, including three months of training at Micron Technology’s facility in Malaysia, with the firm covering travel expenses and accommodation, according to a DAIICT official.

Prof S S Manoharan, Director General of Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU), reported that at least 10 students have received offers from MSIPL. He anticipates that the number will increase as the company returns for a second round of recruitment. Currently, the focus is on hiring trained E&C engineers, but he believes that future recruitments will encompass various engineering disciplines relevant to different stages of chip manufacturing.

Experts associated with this initiative have noted that DAIICT has already introduced a comprehensive semiconductor course, while several other engineering colleges have incorporated modules or focused on VLSI design to ready the students for careers in the semiconductor industry.

An advisor to the state government, speaking anonymously, mentioned that the company is likely to absorb approximately 150 recent engineering graduates by the end of the year. Training is expected to commence in January-February, with the first batch of experts ready to contribute to the state’s production facility by the end of the following year. Additionally, institutes like ITIs may also benefit from Micron’s presence.

Ajit Shah, President of the Sanand Industries Association, mentioned that they are in the process of establishing a mini-ITI at Sanand GIDC to meet the demand for skilled local youths. They plan to dedicate an entire floor to skill development in response to Micron’s arrival.