From Design to Fab: India’s Electronics Future Depends on Upskilling

• Chinmay
• May 26, 2025
• Electronics, India
• chip design to fab transition, electronics manufacturing skill gap, electronics sector jobs, fab talent development, India chip industry workforce, India semiconductor upskilling, India’s chip manufacturing future, MediaTek India semiconductor strategy, skill mismatch in fabs
• 0 Comments

India’s journey toward becoming a global semiconductor hub is no longer a distant aspiration — it’s a fast-unfolding opportunity. With government-backed investments, policy tailwinds, and a growing startup ecosystem, the country is laying the groundwork for a vibrant chip manufacturing industry.

But according to MediaTek, one of the world’s leading chipmakers, there’s one crucial piece that still needs work: a skilled manufacturing workforce.

From Chip Design to Chip Foundries

India has long been a leader in semiconductor design talent — with engineering hubs contributing to chip architecture and software solutions for global giants. Now, with six chip fabrication facilities approved (including an HCL–Foxconn JV in Uttar Pradesh), the focus is shifting to hardware, cleanroom fabs, and high-precision manufacturing.

However, David Ku, co-COO and CFO at MediaTek, cautions that the transition won’t be instant. Even in countries like the US, it takes four years from groundbreaking to mass production. “For India, where the semiconductor manufacturing workforce is still relatively new, it might take longer,” Ku said.

Skill Mismatch Is Real — But Fixable

Tarun Pathak, Research Director at Counterpoint Research, notes that India’s challenge isn’t interest — it’s readiness.

“There’s a substantial skill mismatch between academia and industry. Even if training begins today, it may take 5–10 years to build hands-on hardware expertise.”

The solution?

A multi-track approach:

• Upskilling college students in semiconductor tools and fab operations
• Attracting global talent for knowledge transfer
• Creating fab-focused curriculum pathways across India’s top universities

And companies like MediaTek are already leaning in — training thousands of Indian software engineers and pushing for greater ecosystem collaboration.

India’s Tech Edge: Connectivity and Convergence

Beyond manufacturing, MediaTek sees massive potential in India’s digital infrastructure.

Recent government decisions to de-license the 6GHz band for WiFi services could accelerate WiFi 7 deployment, enabling faster, high-efficiency networks. Although average home speeds are still around 30 Mbps (WiFi 6-level), the ecosystem is primed for a leap.

Meanwhile, satellite internet is gaining traction. MediaTek is working on hybrid CPEs (customer premise equipment) that combine terrestrial and satellite connectivity — ideal for markets like India where last-mile broadband is still evolving.

“With 6G, users won’t need to know whether the signal comes from space or the ground — connectivity will just work,” said Thomas Ho, Marketing Director at MediaTek.

A Turning Point, Not a Roadblock

MediaTek’s message is clear: India has the opportunity, the policy support, and the demand — now it needs to scale its talent pipeline.

And that’s not a weakness. It’s a runway.

With strategic upskilling, India could not only meet domestic chip needs but become a global supplier of both semiconductor talent and technology. The next ten years won’t just shape India’s chip industry — they’ll define who leads the next phase of global innovation.

Key Takeaways:

• India’s semiconductor momentum is real — but will require hardware-focused upskilling
• Design talent is strong, but manufacturing expertise needs time and training
• MediaTek is optimistic, pointing to WiFi 7, 6G, and satellite convergence as growth levers
• Government policy and private partnerships must work together to build a skilled workforce