Industry overview
What is shaping semiconductor
The semiconductor and electronics manufacturing ecosystem is expanding, bringing new fabs, design centres and suppliers. Talent, supplier readiness and policy support decide its pace.
- New manufacturing capacity needs a local supplier base
- Design and fab talent is in high demand
- Policy incentives shape investment decisions
Client background
A state electronics and semiconductor mission, working in Karnataka, Gujarat & Telangana. Client identity is withheld to protect confidentiality.
- Organisation
- A state electronics and semiconductor mission
- Sector
- Semiconductor
- Team engaged
- Market Research
- Services
- Government research, Quantitative research, Qualitative research
Client challenge
The mission wanted to attract semiconductor design and assembly investments, but companies questioned whether enough skilled engineers and technicians would be available. Officials needed evidence on current supply, demand and skill gaps to plan training.
Research objectives
- Deliver on the brief: mapping the talent pipeline for semiconductor design and manufacturing.
- Understand the views, needs and behaviour of employers.
- Understand the views, needs and behaviour of institutes.
- Measure how widespread each pattern is, and explain the reasons behind it.
- Give the client evidence it can act on within 11 weeks.
Target audience
The work focused on 120 employers, 40 institutes and 1,500 students.
- employers120
- institutes40
- students1,500
Audiences we typically reach in semiconductor
Design and manufacturing companiesComponent suppliersEngineers and studentsB2B buyersIndustry bodies
Geographic coverage
Coverage: Karnataka, Gujarat & Telangana. Market: India.
- India
Research methodology
A mixed-method design: structured research measured how widespread each pattern was, and qualitative conversations explained why.
- 1Brief
- 2Employer survey
- 3Institute interviews
- 4Student survey
- 5Insight
We surveyed semiconductor and electronics employers about hiring plans, roles in demand and skills shortages, interviewed heads of engineering colleges and polytechnics about curricula and lab facilities, and surveyed final-year students about their interests and awareness of semiconductor careers.
Government researchQuantitative researchQualitative research
Sampling strategy
- employers
- 120
- institutes
- 40
- students
- 1,500
- Business respondents were screened on role, company size and involvement in the decision before being invited.
- Qualitative participants were recruited purposively to cover the full range of experiences that mattered, rather than for statistical representation.
Data collection
- Interviews and discussions were led by experienced moderators using a guide agreed with the client.
Data quality & validation
- Recordings and transcripts for every session
- Re-screening of qualitative recruits
- Logic and range checks on the final data
- Work carried out under our ISO 20252 quality procedures
Data analysis
- Cross-tabulation by key groups and locations
- Significance testing on the differences that mattered
- Thematic coding of interviews and discussions
- Journey and decision mapping
Key findings
- Demand was strongest for verification engineers and equipment technicians, while most institutes lacked relevant labs and few students knew these careers existed.
- Employers participating in the study also agreed to offer internships and guest lectures, linking students directly with the industry.
Talking to employers, institutes and students together revealed a mismatch none could see alone.
Recommendations
- Build on the core insight: talking to employers, institutes and students together revealed a mismatch none could see alone.
- Focus effort where the evidence was strongest: demand was strongest for verification engineers and equipment technicians, while most institutes lacked relevant labs and few students knew these careers existed.
- Re-measure after the changes to confirm the effect.
Business impact
- The mission launched industry-linked lab programmes, faculty training and awareness campaigns in engineering colleges.
What changed in the business as a result of the work. Impact is described qualitatively.
Deliverables & next steps
- Insight report and management presentation
- Cleaned data file and data tables
- Interview summaries and key verbatims
- Evaluation findings with programme recommendations
- Repeat the measure after changes are in place to track progress.
- A natural follow-on question: how effective are policy incentives?
Client identity is withheld to protect confidentiality.