Introduction
Semiconductor design company Arm is taking steps to address the critical shortage of skilled professionals in the semiconductor industry. With the aim of nurturing the next generation of talent and upskilling the existing workforce, Arm has introduced the Semiconductor Education Alliance (SEA). This global initiative brings together like-minded companies from the semiconductor sector, uniting efforts to overcome the scarcity of skilled workers that could hinder the industry’s growth, especially at a time when nations worldwide seek to strengthen their chip industries.
The Semiconductor Education Alliance
Arm’s SEA is a collaborative effort that leverages existing agreements and workstreams from Arm and other industry players while also introducing new ones. The initiative acts as an evolution of Arm’s established education model, with the company taking on a coordination role. The main idea is for the members of the alliance to pool their resources and expertise in a federated and open model. This approach aims to provide teachers, researchers, and students with access to valuable resources and opportunities for collaboration on joint projects and research grants.
Projects and Partnerships
The alliance is already working on several projects, including educational resources for chip design that utilize state-of-the-art tools. Arm is collaborating with Electronic Design Automation (EDA) firms in this endeavor. Additionally, the initiative offers an academia-focused system-on-chip (SoC) design platform, granting access to the latest semiconductor fabrication technologies from Arm and other companies. Furthermore, the Semiconductor Education Alliance is venturing into new distance learning solutions, focusing on computer engineering and informatics.
Collaborating Entities
The SEA involves various prominent organizations from the semiconductor and academic sectors. Some of the notable members include Arduino, a single-board computer manufacturer; Cadence, an EDA developer; STMicroelectronics and Synopsys, semiconductor companies; the Semiconductor Research Corporation; Cornell University in New York; the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute; the All-India Council for Technical Education, and the University of Southampton in the UK. Together, these entities aim to strengthen the alignment of the industry, share resources, and foster communities of best practices to tackle the prevailing skills gap.
Addressing the Skills Shortage
The global semiconductor industry is witnessing growing demand, fueled by countries’ efforts to bolster their domestic chip production and reduce reliance on Asian imports. Additionally, the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of securing supply lines and domestic chip manufacturing capabilities. In the UK, the situation is particularly concerning, with the UK Electronics Skills Foundation (UKESF) reporting that there is a significant shortage of graduate engineers. The foundation, which supports Arm’s Semiconductor Education Alliance, noted that only 3,245 students enrolled in Electronic and Electrical Engineering courses in 2021, while over 80% of British chip design companies face unfilled vacancies.
Conclusion
Arm’s Semiconductor Education Alliance represents a proactive response to the shortage of skilled talent in the semiconductor industry. By fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among industry players and academic institutions, the initiative seeks to bridge the skills gap and support the growth and innovation in the semiconductor sector. As nations worldwide strive to strengthen their chip industries, initiatives like SEA are crucial in ensuring a steady supply of skilled professionals to meet the demands of the fast-evolving semiconductor landscape.
