HYDERABAD: The Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) has entered into a strategic collaboration with Japanese advanced semiconductor solutions provider Renesas Electronics Corporation with an eye on boosting semiconductor innovation and talent development in the country.
The three-year memorandum of understanding (MoU), facilitated by the IITH Japan Desk set up through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will focus on research and collaboration in the area of very-large-scale-integration (VLSI) and embedded semiconductor systems, IITH said.
As part of the pact, Renesas will support curriculum development, hands-on learning, and outreach programmes at IITH to nurture semiconductor talent.
The move will give IITH engineering students internship and full-time employment opportunities with Renesas, which aligns with the `Make in India’ strategy to build a self-reliant semiconductor ecosystem for India and the world.
JICA India chief representative Saito Mitsunori said the IITH-Renesas partnership represents a significant milestone for Indo-Japan collaboration in the semiconductor sector as envisaged in the `Japan-India Semiconductor Supply Chain Partnership’ between the two governments.
“Promotion of Indo-Japan collaboration in high-end technologies such as semiconductors will be a new but important sphere of JICA’s cooperation with India as the largest and closest development partner of the country,” he added.
JICA said it was committed to supporting IITH’s aspirations to emerge as a hub for India’s talent development, a nucleus for India-Japan academic collaborations, and a key player in the `Make in India’ initiative, including in the semiconductor sector.
JICA said it has been providing financial assistance to IITH for campus development through ODA (official development assistance) loans aggregating to Japanese Yen 23,035 million (around Rs 1,500 crore). It has also been extending technical cooperation through Project Friendship that supports IITH’s initiatives to function as a sustainable platform for academic and industrial collaborations between India and Japan, including the setting up of the Japan Desk on campus.
The Japan Desk at IITH acts as a bridge between India and Japan, promoting academic and industrial partnerships, unlocking the full potential of these collaborations, and continuing to connect Japanese stakeholders with IITH for future tangible collaborations.