The device you are reading this article on would not exist without VLSI

The electronics industry has undergone a revolution thanks to Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) design, empowering the creation of new age electronics and changing the world as we know it. The electronics revolution ushered in from the turn of the century owes a lot to VLSI design, and the impact of the technology can never be underestimated.

VLSI technology has been pivotal in the relentless march toward miniaturization. By packing millions of transistors onto a single chip, VLSI has contributed to the development of smaller, but more powerful electronic devices. It is directly responsible for increasing computing power and is a cornerstone for Moore’s Law. These features of VLSI have been used extensively by companies to incorporate electronics into every conceivable industry today.

The current scenario of the VLSI Industry

VLSI is a part of the larger semiconductor industry, which is expected to be valued at over a trillion dollars by 2030. The growth prospects seem very promising, but semiconductor industries across the world are facing roadblocks with respect to availability of talent. In India, this situation is exacerbated due to the rapid growth of the semiconductor industry, which is higher than in other nations. As quoted by BusinessLine, the Indian semiconductor industry is set to generate over a million jobs for engineers, technicians and operators. However, the lack of industry-specific courses is the largest hurdle for companies in this space, despite half a million engineers passing out of their graduate engineering programs every year.

The India chapter of the Semiconductor Industry

India has one of the largest untapped potential in the world for semiconductor skills. The high volume of engineering graduates passing out every year can contribute largely to the proliferation and continuity of this sector. Unfortunately, there are no courses designed to impart semiconductor-specific knowledge to aspirants in this field.?

The situation is slowly changing, with AICTE recommending colleges to include industry-specific B.Tech courses to develop a job-ready talent pool. However, with India’s lofty targets for the semiconductor industry, there is a need to launch new programs for enabling aspirants to enter this high-growth sector.?

Solving the training situation in the country

In order to solve the talent crunch faced by India and enable companies to initiate semiconductor based projects across the country, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (IISc) offers a PG Level Advanced Certificate Course in VLSI and Chip Design in association with TalentSprint. This 9-month course comprises live interactive sessions with the IISc faculty and provides participants with a hands-on learning experience and two campus visits at the prestigious IISc campus. The program accepts applications for aspirants with a bachelors or masters degree in an engineering subject and at least one year of work experience across all industries, but preferably in the VLSI domain.

The program has been designed by IISc’s Department of Electronics Systems Engineering and offers a cutting edge curriculum with an emphasis on applied learning. The modules contain hands-on components which include training on industry standard tools, state-of-the-art research labs to realize participant projects and interactions with VLSI veterans in the industry.?

This program aims at creating job-ready professionals with a strong foundation of industrial principles for VLSI and has been instrumental in assisting its participants foray into the industry. The efficacy of this program is evident from multiple positive reviews, with one participant, Ram Balaji S highlighting the program features and the associated benefits in length.?

The campus visit component of the program was especially praised, which was instrumental in providing exposure to the aspirants about the various industrial methods deployed in VLSI development. The lectures delivered by IISc faculty on campus, coupled with practical lab sessions and opportunities to network with industry professionals provided a rewarding learning experience for our participants.?

The program has a good track record over the past four cohorts, and previous participants have gone on to work for eminent organizations involved in the VLSI domain. The testimonials left by previous participants highlight the effectiveness of the program through comments such as "For a chip design professional, this programme is an excellent opportunity to stay ahead in the industry.", “"This programme will help me widen my knowledge and explore new opportunities in the semiconductor industry." and “"The programme curriculum will help me carve a roadmap for my future research works related to VLSI Chip Design."

Check out some pictures from the stimulating campus immersion experience at IISc for the latest VLSI batch.?

Want to design smaller and faster devices? Become part of the trillion dollar industry.

VLSI will be the backbone of technological advancement by enabling the design of compatible hardware for new-age technologies. Keeping this trend in mind, IISc’s VLSI program in collaboration with TalentSprint, aims to develop job-ready talent and solve the largest hurdle in the development of India’s semiconductor capabilities.?

For more information on different aspects of VLSI and its impact on the future of electronic devices, visit our VLSI and Chip Design page.