FABrIC, a five-year project to secure Canada’s future in semiconductors managed by CMC Microsystems, has formed a strategic partnership with SECTR, Canada’s Semiconductor Ecosystem & Center for Talent & Research. Under this partnership, FABrIC and SECTR will develop and deliver training programs to address the talent gap in semiconductor design and development.

One of the pillars of FABrIC, made possible by a $120M investment by the Government of Canada, is training a pool of semiconductor Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) in Canada. Our industry partners in Canada have delivered a clear message: Demand for semiconductor talent is very high, and businesses are concerned that there is a shortage of Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) to meet their needs. The initiatives FABrIC and SECTR are developing will strengthen the talent pipeline while growing the Canadian semiconductor ecosystem.

Demand for semiconductor HQP is high, and growing

We are more dependent on semiconductors than ever. Semiconductors (or chips) are the backbone of all modern electronics, and are necessary for everything from streaming content, updating social media, ordering online services, driving any modern car, and more. With new IoT and AI-based products being introduced daily, demand for semiconductors – and the talent to design the next generation of semiconductors – will grow sharply. In this context, it is crucial that Canadian industry has the talent necessary to compete and thrive in the global marketplace.

FABrIC and SECTR will design and deliver training courses targeting recent college and university graduates, providing them with industry-recognized credentials and experience. This will set them up for success in industry, help meet industry needs, and create good jobs in Canada across the semiconductor value chain.

Meeting industry needs

“SECTR was born out of industry engagement”, said Jeff McNamee, President of SECTR. “We worked with industry partners across Canada to understand their needs and design training programs to bridge talent gaps. There are different needs and resources across Canada, and we work closely with our industry partners to develop localized, tailored training solutions.”

“Canada’s Semiconductor Council (CSC) concluded an evaluation of the talent shortage in the semiconductor sector, a summary of which will be released soon,” said Paul Slaby, Managing Director. “The industry is facing a talent crisis, and partnerships like this are critical to ensuring training is directed to meet the available jobs.”

“Building Canada’s technological strength and resiliency requires high calibre training and upskilling of the semiconductor talent in our industry” said Lynn McNeil, VP, FABrIC. “Partnering with SECTR on training initiatives and leveraging the insights of the CSC helps us align the interests in our ecosystem to achieve greater impact.”