Electronics, Semiconductors & Computer Engineering: The New Integrated Engineering Frontier
Why tomorrow’s jobs need students who study both Electronics & Computers, and how this combination can open strong career opportunities for young people across India.
Engineering as a discipline has continuously evolved in response to societal and technological needs. In earlier phases of industrialisation, the emphasis was on mechanical systems and structural design. Over time, technology has evolved to incorporate sophisticated sensing and actuation capabilities, enabling it to meet the present-day challenges. Also, computing and software opened new dimensions of automation, data processing, and intelligent control. Today, the fastest-growing technological domains are shaped not by any single discipline alone, but by the integration of physical systems and computation. This shift has given rise to a new frontier of innovation in Engineering, one that combines Electronics, Semiconductors, and Computer Engineering to meet the needs of the commoner.
The modern landscape of smart devices reflects an integration of autonomous systems, healthcare instrumentation, advanced manufacturing, and semiconductor technologies. Instead of treating electronics and computing as separate silos, the leading industries view them as complementary entities that interact and work together to define the new frontiers of technology, enhancing the quality of life.
This article examines why an integrated approach is becoming increasingly essential for students and institutions not only in India but across the globe. The strategic policy decisions driving it, the investments underway, and the academic alignment are required to prepare the future-ready workforce.
Why are Integrated Skills Essential?
The devices, systems & processes that define our daily lives increasingly rely on both physical hardware and embedded intelligence. The following practical examples illustrate:
• In electric vehicles, electronic systems such as sensors and power electronics handle real-time measurements, while software and embedded algorithms make continuous decisions on battery usage, braking, and control logic
• In medical imaging and monitoring devices, electronic sensors detect physiological signals, and software tools interpret these signals for diagnosis and clinical decision support
• Smartphones include complex circuits for signal capture, along with advanced computing frameworks for artificial intelligence applications such as facial recognition and natural language processing
• Industrial automation systems depend on electronic sensing and signal conditioning while using software logic to coordinate distributed control systems for precision manufacturing
These examples illustrate why modern systems require Engineers who need to understand both the physical behaviour of electronics and the computational logic that governs the decision-making. Employers across various sectors increasingly seek students with integrated expertise, rather than specialists in a single domain.
In the Indian context, this change is being recognised at the highest level of policy-making through a dialogue between industry personnel. During a panel discussion, “The Big Question industry leaders characterised India’s semiconductor progress as a structural outcome of sustained efforts rather than a temporary surge, emphasising the need for capabilities that extend well beyond traditional manufacturing roles and require a blend of electronics and computing skills (NDTV Profit, 2025).
A Global Perspective on Semiconductors and Integrated Technology
Semiconductors are the foundation of modern electronics, powering everything from consumer gadgets to industrial systems, medical equipment, aerospace navigation, and defence platforms. Because semiconductors lie at the intersection of materials science, microelectronics, and computational design, nations that treat them as strategic assets are focusing heavily on policies that support both hardware capabilities and software innovation.
Globally, countries including the United States, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and members of the European Union maintain robust semiconductor frameworks that combine advanced fabrication capacity, research ecosystems, and education systems aligned with industry needs. Semiconductors are increasingly viewed as essential infrastructure, comparable to energy grids or transportation networks, due to their pivotal role in enabling digital economies. The Leading companies in the global Semiconductor Ecosystem include:
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), Intel, Samsung Electronics, Micron Technology, Qualcomm, NVIDIA, Texas Instruments, STMicroelectronics, NXP Semiconductors, Broadcom
These firms emphasise design innovation, advanced process nodes, computing acceleration, and ecosystem development — all of which require engineers compatible with both physical layer technology and computational frameworks.
How India is Responding: A Strategic Shift
Recognising the strategic importance of semiconductors, the Government of India has launched a series of targeted policies and initiatives aimed at building domestic capability in chip design, packaging, testing, and manufacturing:
• India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) — A flagship initiative with a strategic outlay of ₹76,000 crore, aimed at supporting fabrication facilities, design capabilities, and ecosystem partners across the semiconductor value chain (GoI Press Release, Feb 2025)
• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for large-scale electronics manufacturing encourage both domestic production and exports (Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Electronics & IT, 2024).
• Design Linked Incentive (DLI) schemes support local semiconductor chip design and related intellectual property development (Ministry of Electronics & IT, 2024).
• Semiconductor Incentive Programme (SIP) targets assembly, testing, marking, and packaging (ATMP/OSAT) infrastructure (GoI Announcement, 2025).
• Chips to Start-ups (C2S) equips academic institutions with semiconductor design tools, simulation environments, and training platforms (Ministry of Electronics & IT, 2023).
• Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC) and other ecosystem schemes provide foundational facilities like cleanrooms, PCB manufacturing units, and testing labs (GoI Policy Document, 2024).
These policies aim to develop an End-to-End Semiconductor Ecosystem in India, encompassing basic research and design, as well as advanced manufacturing and packaging, while fostering industry participation across various sectors. Some of the Major Semiconductor Investments in India:
• Tata–PSMC Semiconductor Fab, Dholera, Gujarat: A landmark semiconductor fabrication facility planned in collaboration with global technology partners, representing one of India’s most significant semiconductor manufacturing investments (Tata Electronics Announcement, 2025)
• Micron Technology ATMP Facility, Sanand, Gujarat: Micron’s multi-billion-dollar assembly, testing, marking & packaging facility enhances India’s capability in semiconductor support operations (Micron Press Release, 2024)
• Tata Semiconductor Assembly & Test (TSAT), Jagiroad, Assam: India’s first large-scale indigenous chip packaging & test facility, augmenting the semiconductor supply chain (Assam Govt. Release, 2024)
• HCL–Foxconn Semiconductor Unit, Jewar, Uttar Pradesh: A strategic OSAT unit slated to begin construction in early 2026 to support advanced semiconductor processing (Economic Times, 2025)
• CG Power OSAT Facility, Sanand, Gujarat: Enhanced packaging & testing infrastructure to support semiconductor manufacturing and global supply chains (India Briefing, 2025)
• Kaynes Technology Initiatives (Karnataka & Tamil Nadu): Production facilities & advanced packaging units expanding semiconductor capabilities in South India (Industry Report, 2025)
• Polymatech Compound Semiconductor Operations, Tamil Nadu: Operations focused on compound semiconductor materials used in power electronics, photonics & electric vehicles (Industry News, 2024)
• Applied Materials R&D Expansion, Bengaluru, Karnataka: A research and development centre enhancing India’s semiconductor tooling and materials competence (Applied Materials Press Release, 2025)
• Lam Research Semiconductor Training Centre, Karnataka: Training infrastructure preparing engineers for semiconductor fabrication and tooling workflows (Lam Research Announcement, 2025)
• Intel–Tata Advanced Packaging Collaboration, India: A joint initiative to strengthen advanced packaging research & integration capability in India (Corporate Partnership Announcement, 2025)
• SPEL Semiconductor Packaging Expansion, Tamil Nadu: Expansion of OSAT & packaging capabilities to support local and export-oriented manufacturing (Industry Update, 2024)
Each of these investments contributes to a growing semiconductor ecosystem that spans design, testing, packaging, and assembly, all critical links in the global value chain.
How Coastal Karnataka Aligns with the National Semiconductor Growth
While semiconductor fabrication units are being established across several states, including Gujarat, Assam, and Uttar Pradesh, the supporting industries that enable semiconductor development, such as embedded systems, automation, intelligent hardware, product engineering, and verification workflows, are expanding in regions like coastal Karnataka.
Companies such as KARMIC Design Pvt. Ltd., Sophrosyne Semiconductor, Wafersys, Anmaya Technologies, Teloquence Pvt. Ltd., RDL Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Milkc Embedded Technologies, Brevera Technologies, and others operate in areas that support semiconductor-linked competency. Their work includes embedded product design, automation and testing workflows, intelligent hardware integration and product engineering, all of which are foundational to semiconductor ecosystem readiness. Programs like the Silicon Beach Initiative help connect regional talent to national semiconductor workflows by providing industry exposure, hands-on learning opportunities, and pathways toward further training and employment.
Workforce Demand and Projections
Industry projections indicate substantial workforce growth in semiconductor-aligned sectors:
India’s semiconductor market is expected to reach USD 100–110 billion by 2030 (Government of India Press Release, Feb 2025).
• More than 400,000 professionals will be needed across semiconductor-linked domains (Industry Outlook Report, 2025)
• Approximately 275,000 chip design and related professionals will be required by 2032 (Economic Times Analysis, 2024)
• Millions of indirect roles are anticipated through supply chains, automation, and adjacent industries (Workforce Study, 2025)
These opportunities span not only semiconductor manufacturing and design but also embedded systems, real-time computing, automation, testing, verification, and intelligent product development — all areas where electronics and computing skills are essential.
Why Integrated Academic Preparation Matters
Academic programmes need to prepare students for the realities of industry. To contribute to semiconductor and electronics-computing ecosystems, students must gain integrated knowledge, including:
• Electronics & Computer Science fundamentals
• Algorithms, data structures, and embedded logic
• Hardware description languages (Verilog, VHDL)
• Semiconductor physics and device characterisation
• Fabrication materials and chemistry
• Scripting and automation (Python, TCL, Shell, Perl)
• Real-time embedded systems and AI integration
This spectrum of skills enables graduates to work effectively across physical systems and computational logic, improving their employability and flexibility across multiple industry domains.
Hardware and Software Complementarity
Hardware enables action, and Software enables intelligence. Together, they make systems purposeful and reliable.
Programming is integral to semiconductor development and involves Design automation, Testing and verification, Workflow scripting and automation, embedded firmware development, AI-assisted optimisation, and Data analysis and validation.
Languages and tools such as Python, TCL, Shell scripting, Verilog, VHDL, and C/C++ are used to automate repetitive tasks, model complex behaviour and ensure reliable operation across design and testing environments. Modern semiconductor development cannot succeed without these programming competencies intertwined with hardware understanding.
Pathways for Undergraduate Students
Students who gain integrated foundations in Electronics and Computer Engineering can pursue careers across: i) VLSI design and verification, ii) Packaging and testing operations, iii) Embedded systems and real-time computing, iv) Intelligent hardware and IoT product engineering, v) Robotics and automation, vi) Automotive electronics and control systems, and vii) Medical electronics and signal processing.
Such preparation provides multiple entry points into semiconductor value chains and related industries.
Why Higher Study Still Matters
While undergraduate programs lay strong foundations, certain advanced functions in semiconductor work benefit from deeper specialisation. Postgraduate programs, such as M.Tech in VLSI or Embedded Systems, offer students advanced learning in areas including device modelling, signal integrity, verification methodologies, timing closure, low-power design and embedded intelligence.
The specialised capability is often preferred for roles that involve high complexity and industry leadership.
Conclusion
India’s semiconductor growth strategy represents a long-term national direction supported by comprehensive policies, strategic investments and evolving workforce needs. As regional ecosystems develop in alignment, including coastal Karnataka, there is an apparent demand for engineers who understand both electronics and computing.
Electronics, Semiconductors & Computer Engineering has emerged not merely as a new academic pathway, but as an essential direction that aligns with how modern technology is built, paving a new direction for India’s growth at the intersection of hardware and software.
Modern systems operate at the boundary of Circuits and Code. The future belongs to Engineers who can learn, integrate, and design using both evolving disciplines.
About the Author:
Email: anush.ec@sahyadri.edu.in ; Link: www.linkedin.com/in/anushbekal
