Microelectronics Industry Talent Association
Help build the talent pipeline for Indiana’s growing microelectronics industry.
Building Indiana’s Microelectronics Talent Pipeline
Indiana’s microelectronics industry is growing, creating demand for engineers, technicians, and other skilled employees who can support semiconductor production and related technologies.
Led by the Applied Research Institute, the Microelectronics Industry Talent Association (ITA) is in the early stages of developing INCAP programs to help meet that need, but initial programs are expected to focus primarily on technician occupations.
The ITA is also looking beyond semiconductor manufacturing alone. Related industries such as defense electronics, robotics, and advanced manufacturing rely on many of the same technical skills, creating an opportunity to build a broader pipeline of talent with skills that can transfer across industries.
Employers can get involved now to:
- Identify the occupations where talent is needed most
- Define the skills and competencies those occupations require
- Help shape education and workplace training around industry needs
- Build pathways into technician careers with opportunities for continued advancement
Turning Employer Demand Into Programs
The Microelectronics ITA is being built around employer workforce needs. Over the next one to two years, participating employers will help identify the occupations the ITA should prioritize and define the skills and competencies future employees need to succeed in those roles.
While specific occupations are still being determined, the initial focus is expected to be on technician-level roles that can prepare participants to make meaningful contributions on the job relatively quickly. Programs may also provide a foundation for participants who choose to continue their education and pursue engineering careers.
Regular employer meetings and participation opportunities will give companies a direct role in shaping the occupations, competencies, and training that become part of the Microelectronics pathway.
A Growing Need for Microelectronics Talent
Indiana’s expanding microelectronics sector will require talent across both highly technical engineering occupations and the technician roles that support production, quality, equipment, and other critical operations.
Electronic assemblers, quality inspectors, machinists, and field service technicians are foundational to microelectronics production, alongside semiconductor, electrical, manufacturing, software, test, and other engineering occupations.
The need extends beyond semiconductor companies themselves. Defense electronics, robotics, advanced manufacturing, and other technology-driven industries depend on many of the same skills, making development of a broader technical workforce an important part of the ITA’s long-term strategy.
Why Build Your Talent Pipeline Through INCAP?
A Shared Model Makes It Easier to Develop Talent
INCAP gives employers a way to develop future employees with relevant technical skills and real workplace experience. Participants learn while working, helping them understand the technologies, processes, and expectations of the industry before they enter the workforce full time.
For microelectronics employers, that can mean:
- A stronger pipeline of talent prepared for technician-level work
- Employees who can contribute more quickly, reducing the time needed to bring new hires up to speed
- Lower training and development costs through a shared industry approach
- Earlier opportunities to develop and evaluate future employees
- A pipeline that can grow into advanced technical and engineering roles
Expand the Talent Pool
Microelectronics careers may not be familiar to many students and adults considering their next step. INCAP can help employers introduce more people to technician-level opportunities and show them where those careers can lead.
By creating a more visible entry point into the industry, employers can reach people who may not otherwise have considered microelectronics and build a broader pipeline of future talent.
Help Build Indiana’s Microelectronics Talent Pipeline
The Applied Research Institute leads the Microelectronics Industry Talent Association. Contact the ITA to bring your workforce needs to the table and help develop the occupations, skills, and training that will prepare Indiana’s future microelectronics workforce.
Mitch Hobson
Workforce Development Lead, Applied Research Institute