Karnataka semiconductor policy recognizes 3 idiots

All these years, when it comes to Indian semiconductor industry, mainly the design industry, the key strength of India was and is its talented engineers. The engineers who have chosen the semiconductor and VLSI domain are not ordinary electronics engineers. They are the bravest and the brightest because semiconductor is riskiest and is a complex science. Nearly 70% of electronics engineering graduates take up software and other non-engineering IT career path. The semiconductor domain need strong practical understanding of circuit design and engineering fundamental concepts rather than the marks scored. Aamir Khan has displayed as an actor in the 3 idiots movie the typical character of electronics design engineer.
Karnataka Government is smartly recognizing such talents and want to nourish them as entrepreneurs by announcing a Venture Capital (VC) kind of a scheme in its semiconductor policy.

The engineers with strong commitment in developing products are risk takers. They study engineering to learn how to design a product for the real benefit of society rather than dreaming a job in big companies. What they lack is funding and support. This is more relevant in electronics and semiconductor industry.
To design and develop a semiconductor chip, the startups have to buy chip design software from Electronics Design Automation (EDA) vendors such as Synopsys, Cadence, Mentor Graphics and Magma. The EDA tools costs lakhs of Rupees and they are must. Though some of these mentioned vendors claim they have a different business models for startups, finally the user have to pay. Not only the chip design software, the reliable test and measurement lab equipments from companies like Agilent and Tektronix are also equally expensive costing lakhs of rupees. All these creates huge entry barrier in terms of money in semiconductor and electronics engineering product design space.
Added to this is the problem of getting his design manufactured. The multi-billion semiconductor fab club has no sops for Indian chip makers. Only an Indian fab can attempt that. The dream of having Indian fab is still a dream. Luckily there are good number of world class Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) companies in India.
By looking into all this, government is safer mentor and investor for these highly inexperienced buds with high potential.

The challenge here is recognizing the right buds. India Semiconductor Association, academia and the State IT dept. can play synergetic role in ranking the talents.

The Karnataka government is now providing a funding up to 10 lakh rupees by clearly mentioning preference for fresh graduates and startup companies. There is also lab facility support from STPI.

May be our Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has understood all these issues more clearly after he watching the 3 idiots movie. Though a bit of hype, 3 idiots movie has highlighted the engineering education issues.

The Rs. 10 crore fund set up by the Karnataka Government is small for the semiconductor industry. Government may have to raise this amount for a real impact. To match the volatility nature of semiconductor industry, Government policies have to be reviewed atleast annually.

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