Lam Research, a global leader in wafer fabrication equipment and services, celebrated a decade of partnership with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). The milestone was marked with a ceremony during SEMICON India 2025 in New Delhi. Rangesh Raghavan, corporate vice president and general manager of Lam Research India, stated, “Lam’s collaborations with universities across the world support early learning to build a talent pipeline for the future and advance critical research in relevant fields.
In India, we are proud to strengthen our collaboration with IISc, a premier institution that shares our vision for technological advancement.” He added, “Together, we are building a robust ecosystem that empowers students and accelerates India’s semiconductor ambitions.” Lam’s partnership with IISc began in 2014 as part of the institute’s Industry Affiliate Program and has expanded significantly over the last ten years. As part of the global Unlock Ideas program, Lam India offers second-year MTech students from mechanical and electrical engineering backgrounds the chance to engage in advanced research areas such as thermal management, additive manufacturing, and Equipment Intelligence®, guided by IISc faculty.
In July 2023, Lam Research signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IISc’s Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) to initiate a pilot program utilizing Lam’s Semiverse® Solutions and SEMulator3D® software. This initiative was later expanded nationally with a tripartite MoU involving the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), aiming to train up to 60,000 students over the next decade. Lam’s partnership with IISc has been pivotal to the company’s initiatives supporting the Indian semiconductor ecosystem. Prof. Ambarish Ghosh, Chairperson of CeNSE, remarked, “The first step to building a resilient semiconductor ecosystem begins with nurturing talent. As the semiconductor ecosystem in India grows, effective skill development partnerships will be key to ensuring we can sustain the momentum.
We are glad to partner with Lam Research for the long term. With this, we are building a foundation for the future of this industry.” Academic collaborations are vital for advancing India’s semiconductor aspirations, and Lam’s multifaceted partnership with IISc demonstrates a proactive approach to cultivating semiconductor talent in India. It signifies a strong alliance among industry, academia, and government that is essential for India to play a significant role in the global semiconductor value chain.
