The Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur and Singapore’s Institute of Microelectronics (IME), under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on semiconductor research and talent development. The agreement was formalised during SEMICON Southeast Asia 2025.

This partnership aligns with India’s broader objectives under the India Semiconductor Mission, which aims to strengthen India’s position in the global semiconductor landscape through international cooperation and innovation.

The MoU establishes a framework for joint research in areas including post-Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) technologies, advanced transistor designs, heterogeneous integration, chip packaging, AI-driven hardware accelerators, quantum devices, photonic systems, thermal management, and reliability diagnostics. 

Anandaroop Bhattacharya, professor at IIT Kharagpur’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, stated, “This marks a significant step in IIT Kharagpur’s global ambition to drive semiconductor research and aligns well with India’s current thrust on semiconductors through the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).” 

It also encompasses bilateral exchange programmes, specialised training, and joint workshops aimed at equipping researchers, engineers, and students with skills relevant to the evolving semiconductor sector.

Yee-Chia Yeo, deputy chief executive at A*STAR and a professor at NUS, highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts, noting that Singapore’s advancements in the semiconductor domain are rooted in partnerships across research, industry, and government.

This partnership also reflects India and Singapore’s shared vision of building a resilient, innovative, and skilled semiconductor ecosystem through international cooperation.