Pakistan to Establish Semiconductor Education & Research Clusters
The Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), operating under the Ministry of IT and Telecom, has invited proposals for the establishment of three Semiconductor Education & Research Clusters (SERCs) as part of Phase I of the National Semiconductor Human Resource Development Program (NSHRDP).
Regional Clusters Planned
The clusters will be set up across North, Centre, and South Pakistan, with the goal of:
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Strengthening the country’s semiconductor talent pool
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Enhancing the academic research ecosystem
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Building regional hubs of academic and technological excellence
Program Objectives
According to official documents, the initiative will modernize curricula in electronics, electrical engineering, and computer engineering by embedding advanced semiconductor design content.
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The SERCs aim to produce over 1,000 trained engineers by 2030.
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Graduates will be equipped with skills in chip design, verification, and related fields, matching global industry standards.
Academia-Industry Collaboration
The program is designed to:
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Develop a national talent pipeline in semiconductor design
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Strengthen public universities’ research capacity
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Encourage collaboration between academia and industry
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Promote indigenous research and applied R&D in the fabless semiconductor ecosystem
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Ensure graduates are industry-ready and employable
Proposal Submission
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Eligible public sector universities have been invited to submit proposals through the government’s e-procurement system (EPADS).
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A pre-bid meeting will be held on September 16, 2025, via Zoom.
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The deadline for submissions is September 26, 2025, at 4:00 PM, with original bid security required by the same date.
