The Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering, Mangalore Institute of Technology & Engineering, organized “SEMICON 2026” on 28^th August 2026. The event was organized with the objective of strengthening the interaction between academia and the semiconductor industry and providing students with insights into the rapidly evolving semiconductor ecosystem in India. The program witnessed the participation of 378 students from the third and final years along with 50 faculty members, creating a vibrant platform for knowledge exchange, industry interaction, and career awareness.

The event brought together 12 prominent industry leaders and HR professionals from leading semiconductor and technology organizations. The resource persons included Mr. Jackson Johnson, Director, Global Talent Acquisition, Silicon Labs; Mr. Muthukumaran Subramaniyan, Talent Acquisition Lead, Tata Electronics; Ms. Manjula Sahadeva, Senior Manager, Alphawave Semi; Mr. Chandra Shekar, HR Leader, Marvell Semiconductor; Mr. Venu Sirigiri, Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition, Analog Devices; Ms. Padma Priya P, Director–Human Resources, Blaize; Mr. Udhaya Shankar, Manager, Talent Acquisition, Microchip Technology; Ms. Sonali Banerjee, Country HR Manager, Nordic Semiconductor ASA; Mr. Ranjith Sunderraj, Senior Talent Acquisition Business Partner, NI (now part of Emerson); Ms. Vidya Shinde, HR Lead, d-Matrix; Mr. Rajkiran Sreedharan, Senior Recruiter – Early Careers, Silicon Labs; and Ms. Pragathi Thakur, Senior Manager, HR Business Partner, Cadence Design Systems.

The distinguished resource persons collectively brought extensive experience in talent acquisition, strategic hiring, workforce planning, executive recruitment, human resource management, university relations, employer branding, and talent development across the semiconductor, aerospace, IT, and high-technology sectors. Their professional experience ranged from more than a decade to over two decades, with expertise in building global talent strategies and developing industry-ready talent. Mr. Jackson Johnson has over 16 years of experience in global talent acquisition and executive recruitment, while Mr. Muthukumaran S has over 22 years of experience across the semiconductor, aerospace, and IT sectors. Ms. Manjula Sahadeva, Mr. Chandra Shekar, Mr. Venu Sirigiri, Ms. Padma Priya P, and Mr. Udhaya Shankar have extensive experience in strategic recruitment and workforce development within the technology and semiconductor sectors. The other resource persons brought specialized expertise in strategic workforce management, university recruitment, early-career hiring, talent management, and organizational transformation, providing students with valuable perspectives on industry expectations and career opportunities.

SEMICON 2026 focused on bridging the gap between academia and industry and highlighting the growing opportunities within India’s semiconductor ecosystem. The event featured two expert panel discussions, interactive masterclasses, networking opportunities, and roundtable sessions. The first panel discussion, “The Importance of SEMICON: India’s Semiconductor Moment,” was moderated by Mr. Jackson Johnson, while the second session, “Building India’s Semiconductor Ecosystem,” was moderated by Ms. Padma Priya P. The discussions highlighted the growing importance of semiconductor design, fabrication, packaging, and talent development in India, while providing students with actionable insights into emerging technologies, industry requirements, career pathways, and the skills expected from future semiconductor professionals. The event encouraged active collaboration, creative problem-solving, and meaningful interaction among students, faculty, and industry leaders.

The event was organized under the guidance of Dr. Vinayambika S Bhat, Convenor, along with Mr. Srivatsa Upadhyaya P, Ms. Sunitha N V, Mr. Sandeep Seetharam Naik, Mr. Divyesh Divakar, Ms. Deeksha Bekal Gangadhar, and Mr. Rajesh N Kamath, who served as members of the organizing committee. The programme concluded successfully, providing students with valuable exposure to the semiconductor industry and strengthening academia–industry collaboration. Overall, SEMICON 2026 served as an effective platform for inspiring students to explore careers in the semiconductor sector and contributed to nurturing a skilled, innovative, and industry-ready workforce for India’s growing semiconductor ecosystem.