The Government of India announced the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) in 2021, with a total financial outlay of Rs. 76,000 crore, to create a sustainable semiconductor ecosystem in the country. A skilled and trained workforce is essential to make this mission successful — the Semicon India Future Skills Talent Committee report estimates that about 65,000 additional manpower will be needed over the next decade, spanning diploma, undergraduate, master’s, and PhD levels.
With the aim of creating and sustaining this ecosystem, the Ministry of Education (MoE) selected IIT Hyderabad to develop the Indo-US/Taiwan Collaborative Workforce Development Program in Semiconductor Manufacturing, under the Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC).
IIT Hyderabad conducts the SPARC-NanoX workshops as part of this collaborative workforce development program, using the NanoX fabrication facility, in three phases:
Phase 1 — Induction Workshop: An online/hybrid workshop introducing the fundamental principles of semiconductor manufacturing, featuring experts from Indian and US/Taiwanese universities. Open to students at different educational levels, including postgraduate (PG) and undergraduate (UG) programs. Top-performing participants are selected for Phase 2.
Phase 2 — Hands-on Workshop: An in-person, hands-on workshop at the NanoX facility, IIT Hyderabad, covering the key semiconductor fabrication areas: lithography, deposition, etching, and bonding. Participants operate equipment directly under expert guidance. Top-performing participants are selected for Phase 3.
Phase 3 — Advanced Workshop: An advanced workshop conducted at partner universities in Taiwan/US, providing exposure to state-of-the-art semiconductor manufacturing, process monitoring and control, and team projects.
Photo Gallery
Phase 2 Workshop Inauguration
Lecture on Photolithography Fundamentals
Lecture on Advanced Packaging
Workshop Cohort in the Classroom
Collaborators at IIT Hyderabad
Phase 3 Cohort at TSMC, Taiwan
Phase 3 Cohort 3 at NTHU, Taiwan
Lecture at National Center for Instrumentation Research
Cleanroom Session, Phase 3 Cohort 3
Hands-on Lithography Session
Hands-on Fabrication Session
Visit to ITRI, Taiwan
Student Testimonials
Hear from past participants about their experience in the SPARC-NanoX workshops.
Across all three cohorts, 1,205 students joined the online Phase 1 induction workshops. The strongest performers progressed to the in-person, hands-on Phase 2 workshop at the NanoX facility, and the top performers from Phase 2 went on to the advanced Phase 3 workshop abroad.
Cohort-wise Participation
International Exposure — Phase 3
Phase 3 took selected participants to partner universities in Taiwan and the United States. Cohort 3’s Phase 3 was conducted exclusively in Taiwan; Cohorts 1 and 2 sent participants to both Taiwan and the US.
Geographical Diversity
Participants have joined from 31 states and union territories across India — from Jammu & Kashmir to Kerala, and Gujarat to Assam — reflecting the national reach of the program. Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh have the highest representation, alongside strong participation from Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi.
Institute Diversity
Beyond IIT Hyderabad, participants have come from over 350 institutes nationwide — IITs, NITs, IIITs, and a wide range of state and private engineering colleges — underscoring the program’s role in building semiconductor manufacturing talent across the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to some frequently asked questions are given below. This list is dynamic and will be amended as and when required. If your question isn’t already answered here, please email it to
smtp.applications@iith.ac.in — all SPARC-NanoX Workshop related queries should be sent to this email address only.
Q: What is the application deadline?
A: The application deadline for Cohort 4 of the SPARC-NanoX Workshop Phase 1 is September 2nd, 2026. The Phase 2 workshop is scheduled to start on September 20th, 2026 (in person at IIT Hyderabad).
Q: Who is eligible for registration?
A: Students pursuing the 3rd or 4th year of UG Engineering (B.Tech / B.E.) OR pursuing the 2nd year of M.Sc in Electronics/Physics/Chemistry are eligible for registration.
Q: I am pursuing a bachelor's/master’s degree in computer science, AI, data science, information science, or equivalent. Am I eligible for registration?
A: No. This program is not open to the branches listed above. Only students pursuing the degree/branches listed on the Google Form are eligible.
Q: Will the SPARC NanoX program be online or offline?
A: Phase 1 (induction) will be conducted in online mode. Phase 2 will be conducted offline, and in-person participation is mandatory.
Q: Will I receive a certificate of participation?
A: A certificate of participation will be issued to participants who score above a threshold in the Phase 1 evaluation.
Q: What is the procedure for applying for the Level 1 (Online Foundation Training) Program?
A: Please apply through the Google Form at nanox.iith.ac.in.
Q: Is having a passport mandatory for applying for this program?
A: A passport is not mandatory for Phase 1. However, participants selected for Phase 2 must make arrangements to submit their passport details at registration for the Phase 2 workshop.
Q: I am selected for the Phase 2 workshop. Will I automatically become eligible for Phase 3?
A: No. There will be a stringent evaluation at the end of Phase 2, which may include a viva/interview/written examination. Selection for Phase 3 is at the sole discretion of IIT Hyderabad, and depends on the exigencies of funding and the Taiwanese/US partner schedules, among other factors.
Q: Is an NOC mandatory for participation in the SPARC NanoX program?
A: An NOC duly signed by an authorised representative of your college/university must be uploaded at the time of joining Round 2 (if selected). A physical copy of the NOC must also be submitted at the time of registration for Phase 2, if selected.
Q: Will there be any fees for participation in the SPARC NanoX program?
A: Participation is free for CFTI/Public University students.
Q: Will I have an option of choosing between Taiwan and the USA for the Phase 3 workshop?
A: No. The selection of participants for Taiwan/USA is at the sole discretion of the IITH faculty supervising the program, based on student aptitude and funding agency mandates.
Q: I have applied and participated in the round 1 workshops conducted between June–August 2024 and/or December 2024. However, I was not selected for either the Phase 2 or Phase 3 workshops. Will my previous participation in Phase 1 be considered?
A: No. Each round of workshops is considered separate. You must apply afresh and participate in each round if selected.
Q: I have participated in Phase 2 and/or Phase 3 of the Round 1 workshops conducted between June and December 2024. Am I eligible to apply again?
A: No. Participants of Phase 2 and/or Phase 3 are not eligible to apply again. Only participants of Phase 1 who were not selected for subsequent phases are eligible to apply again.
Q: What is the schedule for the upcoming Phase 1 workshop?
A: Phase 1 (online) for Cohort 4 will run September 4–8, 2026, with the examination on September 9 (evening).
Q: I have graduated recently. Am I eligible to participate in the workshop?
A: No. The workshop is only for students currently enrolled in a degree program. Students who have completed their degree programs are not eligible to apply.
