In this landmark episode of The Semiconductor Podcast (TSP), we sit down with a rare visionary — a serial entrepreneur, patent holder, and esteemed faculty at IIT Kharagpur — who has seamlessly bridged the worlds of academic research, chip design, and startup leadership. 🧑🏫💼📈
🔍 What sparks a Ph.D. holder to become a founder? ⚙️ How does deep research translate into high-impact leadership and innovation? 🌏 And what will it take to turn Eastern India into the next big semiconductor hub? From his early days at Intel, Texas Instruments, and SanDisk to founding Sankalp Semiconductors and now leading Aantaric Technologies, our guest walks us through: • The milestones, patents, and turning points that shaped his journey 🛤️ • How to build and lead 100+ strong high-performance analog design teams 🔧🔥 • The real-world role of AI/ML in analog and mixed-signal design 🤖📊 • How engineers can transition from “desk job survival” to patent-worthy innovation 💡📝 • His personal playbook for spotting research-backed, commercially viable ideas 🎯 But this episode is more than just a founder’s story — it’s a blueprint for ecosystem building. Hear his passionate take on: • Why Kolkata and Eastern India can be the next design powerhouse 🌉📡 • How institutions like IIT KGP, ISI, JU, NIT Durgapur, IIEST, and others can collaborate to build a deep tech and semiconductor ecosystem in the region 🏛️🧬 • Current initiatives, startup incubations, and what’s still missing for real momentum 🚀 👩💻 Whether you’re a student, engineer, policymaker, or startup dreamer, this conversation is packed with insights on leadership, innovation, and India's semiconductor potential. 🎧 Tune in to discover how to go from job seeker to job creator, from researcher to founder — and from follower to pioneer in India’s chip revolution. 🇮🇳✨ In this podcast series, discussion on VLSI and its related fields is presented, focusing on recent developments and advancements in the industry. Topics such as the latest trends and innovations in semiconductor technology are explored, offering insights into the evolving landscape. Career guidance is shared, providing practical advice for navigating the field, along with success stories that highlight the journeys of professionals who have made their mark in VLSI. Whether for students, professionals, or those interested in the subject, valuable knowledge is offered to help stay informed and succeed in this dynamic area. Guest : Dr. Prajit Nandi Prajit Nandi is a distinguished faculty member in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur. With over 20 years of extensive experience in semiconductor product development, he has held pivotal roles in renowned multinational companies such as Intel, SanDisk, and Texas Instruments. He is a founding team member of Sankalp Semiconductor Pvt. Ltd. (now part of HCL Technologies), where he played a critical role in incubating the Analog Design Team from STEP, IIT Kharagpur. He also established and scaled Sankalp’s Kolkata Design Center, building a robust team of over 100 engineers. Under his leadership, the center built strong analog design verticals in Data Converters, Power Management, and Clocking Systems, successfully serving top-tier clients including Analog Devices, Cadence, Nuvoton, STMicroelectronics, Toshiba, and Texas Instruments. Prajit has mentored and trained numerous engineers, many of whom are now contributing to leading semiconductor firms in India and around the world. He is currently associated with Texas Instruments, where he works in the High-Speed Data Converter Group of the Analog Signal Chain Business Unit, contributing to the development of world-class high-performance data converters. He holds the rare distinction of serving as Design Architect and Product Lead in both the Analog Power Products (Automotive) and Analog Signal Chain business units at TI. His research interests lie in Wireline Communications and Signal Chain Design. He holds 8 US patents, and has published 4 journal papers and 4 conference papers. Additionally, he serves as a technical advisor to Aantaric Technologies Pvt. Ltd. 🔗 Prajit Nandi – Aantaric Technologies 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get ₹740 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5468382652137472Watch the podcast here :
