SINGAPORE – German chipmaker Siltronic and Taiwan’s Vanguard International signed a pact with the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) on Jan 21 to nurture and prepare its students for roles in the semiconductor industry here.

Under the agreement, the companies will sponsor ITE’s Work-Study Diploma (WSDip) programme in microelectronics and other relevant courses.

The programme offers sponsored internships and jobs for graduates and enables partner companies to advise ITE on curriculum development.

More than 500 ITE students will benefit from the initiatives, said the institute, adding that opportunities under the pact will enable students to familiarise themselves with job roles and careers in the semiconductor industry.

Hundreds of ITE students have in the past few years gone through WSDip and similar partnerships with several technology companies based here. Notable names include chipmakers GlobalFoundries, Micron, STMicroelectronics, Intel, Nvidia and software giant Microsoft.

Under the agreement, Siltronic and Vanguard will also get help from ITE in drawing up training blueprints and certification courses for their employees, including mid-career staff – in addition to a pipeline of skilled young talent. 

To share best practices and knowledge, the ITE also collaborates with partner companies on joint industry projects, as well as co-organises industry seminars, conferences and workshops for students, staff and industry professionals.

Ms Low Khah Gek, chief executive of ITE, said: “As Singapore seeks to strengthen its position as a global semiconductor hub, the demand for skilled talent will grow stronger.”

Meanwhile, partnerships with leading industry players will provide ITE students with valuable real-world exposure, equip them with authentic industry skills and experience, and inspire them to pursue careers in the semiconductor industry, she added.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan said the semiconductor industry accounts for 8 per cent of Singapore’s gross domestic product and employs 10 per cent of the manufacturing workforce.

Singapore accounts for one in 10 chips and one in five semiconductor equipment produced worldwide. Hence, the Republic is a critical node in the global chip supply chain of the industry.

“This did not come about by chance. It is the result of decades of development and investment into building our thriving semiconductor ecosystem,” Mr Tan said.

Just in the past two years, Singapore’s chip industry has attracted more than $18 billion of research and development and manufacturing investments, which will generate new business and job opportunities.

Mr Tan said the goal is to keep the semiconductor industry here growing and strengthen Singapore’s position in the global production and innovation supply chain. But to do that, Singapore needs a strong talent pool, he noted.

“We need a top-quality workforce – with strong technical expertise and an unwavering can-do spirit.”

The agreement signing ceremony was held on the sidelines of the annual Electronics Industry Day, which ITE jointly organised with the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association (SSIA).

Mr Tan thanked SSIA for its role in developing local talent by partnering schools, industry and government agencies.

He said SSIA has been a helpful resource for those seeking new professional networks and technical skills through its workforce development initiatives. These include the Career Conversion Programme (CCP) – co-developed with Workforce Singapore and the Economic Development Board – as well as the Leadership in Engineering programme. Both programmes are key for reskilling and grooming leaders for the industry, Mr Tan said.

He said that since 2016, GlobalFoundries alone has brought in 138 mid-career hires through the CCP and actively supported their transition through structured training and mentorship.

Recognising the importance of mentorship, SSIA has established the Semiconductor Mentoring Working Group with Mentoring SG, a national-level office.

Mr Ang Wee Seng, SSIA executive director, said that under the mentorship programme, industry veterans are paired with bright and eager students. “Our collective goal is to ensure that every young individual who enters our industry does so with clarity of purpose and, most importantly, confidence in their potential.”

Mr Ang said the future of the semiconductor industry is brimming with potential, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence, internet of things and 5G network technologies.

“As demand grows, so does the critical need for a skilled workforce that can propel these innovations forward,” he added.

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