IIT Bhubaneswar and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad have signed a memorandum of understanding to pursue joint research in semiconductor technology, marking a significant step in India's growing efforts to build a domestic chip ecosystem. The partnership, announced this week, will see both institutions pool their academic and research resources to explore areas spanning device fabrication, materials science, and design technologies critical to semiconductor manufacturing.
While the collaboration does not involve building a physical fab or fabrication facility, experts note that the research underway at these campuses could lay important groundwork for India's broader semiconductor ambitions. IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, long known for its strengths in metallurgical and materials engineering, brings deep expertise in advanced materials — a foundational pillar for chip research. IIT Bhubaneswar, one of the newer IITs, has been steadily building up its engineering and applied sciences departments, including focus areas in electronics and nanotechnology.
India's national semiconductor mission, launched by the central government in 2021, offers financial incentives of over ₹91,000 crore to attract chipmakers and related industries. However, the supply chain — from design education to pilot fabs and packaging units — remains thin, and academic institutions are expected to play a critical role in training the workforce and driving indigenous innovation.
The announcement comes as several states, notably Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, compete to host large-scale manufacturing plants from global players like Tata Electronics and Micron. Analysts say partnerships between IITs can help diversify the talent pipeline beyond those hub states and strengthen research capabilities across the country.
Both institutes said they plan to establish a dedicated coordination committee to oversee project alignment, shared laboratory access, student exchanges, and joint publications. Details on funding sources for the initial phase of the collaboration were not immediately disclosed.
