ISA's Technovation Awards aim to promote semicon research

BANGALORE, INDIA: The India Semiconductor Association (ISA) is committed to building and strengthening a semiconductor ecosystem in India. To encourage innovation in semiconductor research, ISA, in association with the VLSI Society of India (VSI) has instituted the Technovation Awards, which will be held in Bangalore on July 31, 2007.

In an interview with CIOL, Poornima Shenoy, president, India Semiconductor Association (ISA), talks about the concept of the Technovation Awards and what it aims to achieve. Excerpts from an interview:

CIOL: What is the idea behind and uniqueness about the ISA-VLSI Technovation Awards?

: India is expected to consume 11 percent of the global electronic equipment production by 2015, with its semiconductor market likely to be 6.5 percent of the global semiconductor market in 2015. This means a requirement of close to 800,000 VLSI and embedded SW engineering talent – a 10-fold increase, over the next eight years (Source: ISA,F&S Report 2006).

This also means that innovative approaches have to be taken in order to encourage participation in the semiconductor world from education and research perspectives. As an industry body, the ISA wants to promote and encourage the academic fraternity and reward role models.

Such a strategy from the Indian semiconductor industry will sustain efforts to promote and propagate semiconductor research in our academic institutions focused on R&D. This is the idea behind formulating the Technovation Awards.

Awards are not unique. However, it is the first time in India that an industry body is taking steps to recognize and reward research and developments in the semiconductor driven sector.

CIOL: What are the categories that would be awarded at this event and how did you arrive at those?

PS: The different categories of the awards are:

ISA TechnoVisionary is a lifetime achievement award given to a global Indian or Person of Indian Origin for outstanding contributions in the field of semiconductors. 

ISA-VSI TechnoMentor of the year award given to an academic professional working in India for their mentoring and research.

ISA-VSI TechnoShield is a rolling shield for the best academic institution in India for its remarkable work in the semiconductor space.

ISA-VSI TechnoInventor of the year award is given to young investigators recognizing outstanding Doctorate or Masters research from Indian universities.

CIOL: Can you share some highlights that you have seen so far from the nominations?

PS: We have received a good quality of applications from both premier and next line institutions and their faculty members. We were delighted to see a wide reach in spite of it being the very first year.

CIOL: Does ISA have any plans to expand on this further, during the subsequent editions of this event?

PS: We will consider expanding reach as we go forward.

CIOL: How would Technovation 2007 add value the Indian semiconductor industry?

PS: Technovation 2007 is a step by the ISA toward creating larger visibility for the semiconductor industry and research at academic institutions in the country. A study by ISA with EYI shows that both the quality and quantity of talent are the differentiators in providing India with a global competitive edge. We want to ensure that this edge is retained in the immediate and long term.