DTU sets up Vinod Dham Centre of Excellence for Semiconductors and Microelectronics (VDCoE4SM)

Delhi Technological University has inaugurated the Vinod Dham Centre of Excellence for Semiconductors and Microelectronics (VDCoE4SM).

Ashwini Vaishnav, Union Minister, Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and Information Technology, stated that there is strong focus on talent development for India’s semiconductor ecosystem.

The Chips to Start-up program has: 
* Over 1 lakh students (B-Tech/ M-Tech/ PhD) onboarded
* 263 institutions supported with world-class EDA tools 
* 65 R&D projects at 113 organizations
* SMART lab at Nielit, Calicut
* 170 trainings by ChipIN centre

Also, 20 ASICs were fabricated at SCL foundry, and 14 ASICs were sent for fabrication.

Better known as the "Father of the Pentium Chip," Vinod Dham has over 40 years of experience in developing semiconductor products and technologies, as well as in venture capital. He has been recognized as one of the top 25 executives in the computer industry and among the top 100 most influential Asian Americans. Recently, he has been actively mentoring startups, entrepreneurs, and angel investors. 

Dham has dedicated his efforts to supporting India’s Semiconductor Mission, which aims to make India self-reliant in "Electronics Systems and Chip Manufacturing." In a gesture of giving back to his roots, he has donated ₹1 crore to his alma mater, Delhi Technological University (DTU), to establish a Centre of Excellence in the area of semiconductor research.

Delhi Technological University established the Vinod Dham Centre of Excellence for Semiconductors and Microelectronics (VDCoE4SM) in May 2023. Named in his honor, the Centre focuses on imparting training and fostering research in critical areas such as Semiconductor Technology and Integrated Circuit (IC) Manufacturing. 

The Centre aims to bolster the Government’s India Semiconductor Mission by addressing emerging skill gaps and aligning educational programs with the demands of the semiconductor industry. 

With a vision to stimulate a robust R&D ecosystem, VDCoE4SM will drive innovation, intellectual property development, and startups in Semiconductor Technology and Microelectronics, positioning itself as a Centre of National and Strategic Importance to meet the country's scientific and technological needs.