Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has inked a memorandum of understanding with US-headquartered technology company Micron to help foster innovation and develop a highly skilled local workforce, a move aimed at supporting India’s goal of self-reliance in the semiconductor sector and the strengthening of the overall electronics ecosystem.
The partnership envisages research in technology fields, providing experiential learning opportunities for students, cultivating student recruiting activities and facilitating industry-relevant training.
The Micron Semiconductor Lab, set up at the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, IIT Roorkee, will prioritise technical skills, processes and resources needed for IIT Roorkee to adapt and thrive through student internships and fellowships while recognising the importance of local technical expertise. This will be achieved through specialised master’s and doctoral degree programmes, with the support of an augmented curriculum, a physical lab and a panel of professors who will work closely with the students on their technical development.
The IIT Roorkee class of 1996 has pledged to sponsor the ‘Rahul Aggarwal- 96 Chair’ at the institute. Aggarwal is an alumnus of the 1996 batch. The chair, with backing from the industry and academia, will facilitate the research and academic initiatives of the Micron Semiconductor Lab in chip design, technology, modelling, characterisation and product development.
“As a part of our University Research Alliance, Micron (URAM) outreach, this initiative aligns well with the thrust areas of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM). We are grateful for the support and collaboration from the alumni class of 1996,” Macron India managing director Anand Ramamoorthy, also an alumnus of the institute, said in a statement.
IIT Roorkee director Prof. KK Pant said, “As we march into the future, IIT Roorkee remains steadfast in our dedication to pioneering technological advancements. With our esteemed alumni leading the charge, we are poised to shape India’s semiconductor landscape and realise the vision of a developed Bharat by 2047, as envisioned by our Honourable Prime Minister Shri Modi.”