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) under Phase I of the National Semiconductor Human Resource Development Program (NSHRDP).
These clusters will be strategically set up in the North, Centre, and South regions of the country to create a robust semiconductor talent pipeline and boost academic research in advanced chip design technologies.
🎯 Objectives of the Initiative
According to official documents, the program is designed to:
- Modernize academic curricula in electronics, electrical engineering, and computer engineering
- Integrate advanced semiconductor design and verification content
- Establish regional hubs of academic excellence
- Produce over 1,000 skilled semiconductor engineers by 2030
🔬 Focus on Research, Industry, and Employability
The SERCs aim to:
- Serve as focal points for academia-industry collaboration
- Enhance research capabilities within public universities
- Drive innovation and applied R&D in the fabless semiconductor ecosystem
- Promote indigenous research
- Improve graduate employability through industry-relevant training
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📝 Proposal Submission Details
To maintain transparency and competitiveness:
- Eligible public sector universities are invited to submit proposals via the government’s e-procurement system (EPADS)
- A pre-bid meeting will be conducted via Zoom on September 16, 2025
- The deadline for proposal submission is September 26, 2025, at 4:00 PM
- Original bid security must be submitted by the same deadline
This initiative is a milestone in Pakistan’s journey toward becoming a competitive player in the global semiconductor industry, focusing on human capital development, academic modernization, and industry integration.
