Pune: Strengthening industry-academia collaboration will be critical to developing a skilled workforce and advancing research and innovation in India’s growing semiconductor sector, Maharashtra higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil said at an event marking the 20th anniversary of NXP India.Patil said India’s role in the semiconductor industry was expanding rapidly, creating significant opportunities as well as challenges. He urged NXP India to strengthen its engagement with engineering colleges and provide students with exposure to industry practices, research opportunities and the skills required by the sector.“Technology is no longer an option but an integral part of our lives. The semiconductor sector will have a significant role in India’s development journey. The industry should strengthen the government’s efforts through research and innovation,” Patil said.He also highlighted the contribution of Indian engineers and said NXP India should continue its momentum in research and development. “Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India is moving towards the goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047. The semiconductor sector will play an important role in this journey,” he said.NXP India, the research, development and design subsidiary of global semiconductor company NXP Semiconductors, organised the programme to mark two decades of its operations in India. Pune Site Head Ashish Bhattad, company directors, officials and employees attended the event.Bhattad said the completion of 20 years was a significant milestone for the organisation and credited employees for its growth and success. “Pune’s strong ecosystem of education, engineering and innovation provides significant opportunities for the company’s growth over the next 20 years. We will make an even greater contribution to AI, automotive, connectivity and semiconductor technologies,” he said.Patil also visited the company’s facilities and reviewed its products and technological developments. He interacted with Sachin Patki and Pushkar Sudame during the visit.NXP India develops specialised semiconductor and computing solutions for applications including automotive, connectivity, data processing and intelligent devices.Vrushali Modi welcomed the gathering, while Prachi Joshi and Devyani Godbole compered the programme. Hrishikesh Sabnis proposed the vote of thanks.
