NIC launches semiconductor design training programme with Qorvo, Cadence partnerships

An exchange of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NIC and Qorvo. — VNS Photo Mai Hương

HÀ NỘI — Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyễn Chí Dũng on Tuesday announced the launch of the Analogue IC Design Course, an initiative spearheaded by the National Innovation Centre (NIC), in partnership with US giants Qorvo and Cadence, aiming to enhance the workforce in the semiconductor design sector.

Minister Nguyễn Chí Dũng said that course is not only the beginning of a critical training programme, but also a significant step towards Vietnamese mastery of semiconductor technology.

He stressed that this initiative is a crucial way to leverage Vietnamese human capital in the country’s socio-economic development strategy.

The program aims to enhance Việt Nam’s workforce capabilities in semiconductor design, addressing the country’s talent shortage in this sector. It also aligns with the country’s target of training 50,000 engineers and graduates for the semiconductor industry by 2030.

Qorvo will provide senior lecturers and experts, delivering training according to US standards, while Cadence will support the initiative by supplying comprehensive software licences for semiconductor design.

Forty students will be selected from Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Vietnam National University – Hanoi – and seven others will undergo a three-month intensive programme at NIC’s Hà Nội campus, combining theoretical knowledge with practical experience using Cadence Virtuoso, an industry-standard software. Graduates will have internships and employment opportunities at Qorvo and other leading partner firms in the semiconductor design sector.

The partnership was solidified with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NIC and Qorvo, demonstrating a strategic commitment to advancing Việt Nam’s semiconductor ecosystem through high-quality research, development and talent training.

Prior to the ceremony, Minister Dũng met with Qorvo’s chairman to discuss investment and collaboration strategies to foster Việt Nam’s semiconductor industry.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment has encouraged Qorvo and other semiconductor partners to continue investing and expanding their businesses in Việt Nam, emphasising the importance of local supply chain services and the development of R&D centers, particularly within NIC facilities.

Amid the shifting global semiconductor value chain towards Southeast Asia, Minister Dũng asserted that Việt Nam has the necessary conditions to develop its semiconductor industry, including a favourable geographical location, a tech-savvy young workforce, rapidly modernising infrastructure and a conducive investment environment.

He expressed confidence in meeting the target of training 50,000 engineers for Việt Nam’s semiconductor industry, with 15,000 specialising in design by 2030, bolstering both domestic and international workforce needs.

“I am confident in Việt Nam’s semiconductor sector. Việt Nam has the potential to become an R&D and production hub for semiconductors in the region with a robust workforce, not just 50,000 engineers but potentially hundreds of thousands,” Dũng stated.

Innovation is identified as one of five pillars in Việt Nam’s socio-economic development strategy for 2021-30. This strategy has driven the comprehensive development of Việt Nam’s innovation ecosystem, fostering research, development and technology.

Bob Bruggeworth, Qorvo’s Chairman, praised Việt Nam’s rapid semiconductor development and the government’s decisive actions in building a local semiconductor ecosystem. He expressed confidence that NIC will become a central hub for semiconductor development in Việt Nam, highlighting the critical role of human resources in this sector.

“We will work with universities to train great engineers, both theoretical and practical here in Việt Nam,” Bruggeworth said.

Qorvo is a leading global supplier of semiconductor chips for power and connectivity solutions and have a component manufacturing facility in Việt Nam. The company employs over 8,500 people worldwide, with revenues reaching US$3.8 billion in the fiscal year 2024 (April 2023 – March 2024). — VNS