Mdras: Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) is partnering with Purdue University, U.S., to jointly develop a dual-degree program in semiconductors. The two institutions will also be undertaking international cooperation in education and research in the areas of semiconductors and microelectronics.

A Letter of Intent towards this collaboration was signed on 3rd November 2022 at the IIT Madras campus by Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, Prof. Nagendra Krishnapura, Head, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Madras;  Prof. Mung Chiang, President-Elect and Executive Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, Purdue University and Prof. Dimitrios Peroulis, Michael and Katherine Birck Head and Reilly Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University in the presence of Prof. Vijay Raghunathan, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Director of Semiconductor Education, Purdue University, Prof. Arvind Raman, Executive Associate Dean of the College of Engineering, Purdue University, and Prof. Raghunathan Rengaswamy, Dean (Global Engagement), IIT Madras.

Highlighting the unique aspects of this collaboration, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “The semiconductor mission of India looks at the large-scale development and deployment of microelectronics products.  This joint initiative with Purdue will certainly augment our quality human resource development efforts in semiconductor electronics.”

Emphasizing the depth of the Purdue University – IIT Madras partnership, Mung Chiang, President-Elect and Executive Vice President for Strategic Initiatives of Purdue University, said, “Purdue University is home to over 2,700 students from India and Purdue has a long and deep strategic partnership with India and IIT Madras, in particular. We recently launched the first comprehensive Semiconductor Degrees Program (SDP) with the goal of becoming the top source of skilled semiconductor talent for the US. We are thrilled to be partnering with IIT Madras on these dual-degree programs to rapidly contribute to the workforce needs of the large semiconductor industry in both the US and India.”

The proposed dual-degree program in semiconductors would focus on an innovative, cooperatively-developed curriculum that will meet the growing needs of the industry. Undergraduate students with strong academic credentials with a deep interest in working on topics related to semiconductor devices, chip fabrication, and circuit and system will be candidates for the proposed master’s program. This will enable a quick ramp-up of skilled talent, preparing the next generation of the semiconductor workforce.

Dimitrios Peroulis, Michael and Katherine Birck Head and Reilly Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, said, “The Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University and the Department of Electrical Engineering at IIT Madras have forged particularly strong bonds over many areas in the past. We are delighted to join forces again to address common critical needs in semiconductors and microelectronics.”

The partnership would also entail research collaboration in areas such as semiconductor supply-chain management, chip design, packaging, system architecture, and advanced manufacturing methods. 

Highlighting the important areas of the dual-degree course on semiconductors, Prof. Nagendra Krishnapura, Head, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Madras, said, “IIT Madras has world-class faculty in the area of semiconductors, from electronic devices to circuits and systems. This new dual-degree program in semiconductors will give students a solid foundation in these areas, while also giving them the freedom and flexibility to specialize in their chosen area of interest. We also expect the program to open new avenues for collaboration in research and teaching with Purdue University in these areas.”

A key outcome envisaged from this unique partnership includes a workforce prepared to tackle global challenges arising from increased needs for microelectronics and shifting manufacturing trends.

To emphasize how critical this collaboration is, Vijay Raghunathan, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Director of Semiconductor Education, Purdue University, added “The semiconductor industry worldwide is facing a tremendous shortage of talent. Purdue and IIT Madras are implementing an innovative program to address this gap by enhancing the best human and curricular resources and leveraging the complementary strengths of the faculty at the two institutions.”

Other envisioned aspects of this collaboration include exchange of faculty and research scholars and collaborative research and discovery, learning and teaching, and engagement.

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