As India ramps up its semiconductor manufacturing ambitions, INOX India Limited (INOXCVA) and ITM SLS Baroda University (ITMBU) have joined forces to tackle a critical industry challenge: the shortage of highly skilled technical professionals.

 

The two organisations have inaugurated SemiOrbit, an Orbital Welding & Process Piping Skill Excellence Centre, at the university’s Paldi Campus in Vadodara. Established in collaboration with INOX Air Products and Swagelok Bombay, the centre aims to build a specialised talent pipeline for India’s fast-emerging semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem.

 

The initiative targets a crucial but often overlooked pillar of semiconductor manufacturing — the skilled workforce needed to build and maintain the precision infrastructure on which chip fabrication depends.

 

Semiconductor production requires exceptional precision, stringent quality control and contamination-free operating environments. Orbital welding and process piping are essential to the integrity and reliability of ultra-high-purity (UHP) gas distribution systems and process utilities used in semiconductor fabrication and advanced electronics manufacturing.

 

SemiOrbit aims to bridge the gap between conventional technical education and the semiconductor industry’s increasingly specialised requirements. It will offer structured training programmes, practical workshops, certification courses and hands-on learning to students, trainees and working professionals.

 

Aligned with the objectives of the Government of India’s India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), the centre will combine industry expertise with practical instruction and globally benchmarked standards to develop professionals equipped to support the country’s expanding semiconductor and advanced manufacturing sectors.

 

The centre was inaugurated in the presence of Siddharth Jain, Managing Director, INOX Group; Amit Advani, Chairman and Managing Director, Swagelok Bombay; Deepak Acharya, Chief Executive Officer, INOX India Limited; and Ravindra Singh Rathore, Vice President, ITM SLS Baroda University, and Trustee, Samata Lok Sansthan.

 

Commenting on the inauguration, Siddharth Jain, Managing Director, INOX Group, said, “India’s semiconductor ambitions demand bold initiatives and sustained investments, not just in technology and infrastructure, but equally in developing specialised human capital. SemiOrbit is a significant step in this direction, aimed at addressing a critical skill gap in the semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. 

 

"By equipping young professionals with advanced orbital welding and process piping skills essential for building world-class fabrication infrastructure, we are investing in the people who will shape India’s semiconductor future. The opportunity before India is immense, and the time to build these capabilities is now.”

 

Amit Advani, Chairman and Managing Director, Swagelok Bombay, said, “The rapid evolution of India’s semiconductor industry presents an extraordinary opportunity, but realising its full potential will require a combination of world-class technologies, global best practices and sustained investment in local skill development. 

 

"As India builds its semiconductor manufacturing infrastructure, it is imperative that we develop a workforce capable of meeting the highest international standards of precision, quality and reliability. SemiOrbit represents an important step towards this objective, bringing together industry and academia to develop specialised capabilities in orbital welding at scale. We are proud to be part of this collaborative initiative to ensure that India’s semiconductor infrastructure is built right, from the very foundation.”

 

Deepak Acharya, Chief Executive Officer, INOX India Limited, adds, “Semiconductor manufacturing demands highly specialised infrastructure where precision, purity and reliability are non-negotiable. Orbital welding and process piping are critical to ensuring the integrity and contamination-free performance of ultra-high-purity gas distribution systems, making specialised technical skills indispensable to the industry. 

 

"Through SemiOrbit, we aim to bridge the gap between conventional technical training and the exacting requirements of semiconductor manufacturing. By combining industry expertise with hands-on learning, we seek to develop a pool of skilled professionals capable of supporting India's growing semiconductor ecosystem and the broader advanced manufacturing sector.”

 

With the launch of SemiOrbit, industry and academia are stepping up efforts to address the specialised workforce requirements of semiconductor manufacturing. The centre is positioned to help develop the technical capabilities needed to support India’s ambitions to establish a globally competitive semiconductor ecosystem.