In an interview with TimesTech, Karthik Balaram Donthi, Group General Manager – Process Engineering and Human Resources at Orbit & Skyline, shares how the company is powering India’s semiconductor ambitions. From building a skilled workforce and forging global OEM alliances to supporting fab lifecycle management, Karthik highlights the strategic steps that place Orbit & Skyline at the forefront of India’s journey to becoming a global semiconductor hub.
Read the full interview here:
TimesTech: Orbit & Skyline has been instrumental in strengthening India’s semiconductor ecosystem. What strategic steps have you taken to support the vision of building India’s first real semiconductor fab ?
Karthik: Our founders at Orbit & Skyline recognized early on that India’s semiconductor journey is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. Over the past 15 years, we’ve worked with India’s strategic semiconductor fab and several global fabs, learning valuable lessons and developing strategies needed to successfully run a semiconductor fab in India.
A key part of our strategy is building the skilled workforce needed to run these fabs. We’ve developed India’s most comprehensive semiconductor training program for process and equipment engineers—designed using feedback from experts who’ve worked in world-class fabs.
Our commitment to Make in India, make for the World is not just a slogan—it’s a mission we live every day.
TimesTech: How does your global engineering expertise translate into tangible impact for local IC manufacturing in India?
Karthik: I spent my early years working in high-volume manufacturing fabs in the US, and the lessons I learned there have been invaluable in shaping how we support local IC manufacturing in India. That hands-on experience taught me what it takes to run a fab efficiently and reliably.
We’ve built a global team of over 500 engineers with deep expertise in tool installation, maintenance, and process optimization. We’ve supported top-tier customers like TSMC, GlobalFoundries, Infineon, and STMicroelectronics—and we’re now bringing that same level of excellence to India.
Our goal is to help Indian fabs achieve global performance benchmarks from day one by improving equipment uptime, boosting yields, and driving operational excellence.
TimesTech: Talent development is a major challenge in the semiconductor space. What initiatives is Orbit & Skyline driving to bridge the skill gap and build a robust talent pipeline?
Karthik: We have created India’s most comprehensive semiconductor training program specifically designed for process and equipment engineers. This program was built using feedback from experienced engineers who’ve worked in world-class fabs, ensuring it’s practical, relevant, and impactful. The curriculum covers everything from soft skills, equipment basics to quality systems and problem-solving techniques. We’ve also built a dedicated Centre of Excellence that provides hands-on training, helping engineers gain real-world experience before stepping into fab environments.
Our goal is simple: every Orbit & Skyline engineer should be able to deliver excellence and exceed expectations from day one.
Beyond our internal efforts, we’re actively sharing our experience with young students across the country. At Semicon India 2024, for example, we hosted flash-mentoring sessions and PI assessments that attracted hundreds of students—highlighting skill gaps and inspiring future careers in chip-tech.
We also provide opportunities for our engineers to gain experience internationally, enabling the adoption and synthesis of best practices from various regions to help strengthen India’s domestic semiconductor ecosystem.
TimesTech: Semiconductor cities are emerging across India. What factors do you believe are critical to making them successful, and how is Orbit & Skyline contributing to these developments?
Karthik: For semiconductor cities to succeed, four key factors are essential: world-class infrastructure, a sustainable talent pipeline, strong OEM presence, and close alignment between government, industry, and academia.
We’re actively contributing to this vision by deploying skilled engineers, enabling OEM collaborations, and providing lifecycle tool support to ensure these hubs evolve into globally competitive semiconductor ecosystems.
But beyond technology and training, we believe people matter most. One of the reasons we chose to base ourselves in Mohali is because it’s a great place to live—with good infrastructure, education, and quality of life. However, we’ve also had to deploy engineers to remote locations where social life and amenities are limited. In such cases, our HR and Global Mobility teams play a vital role in supporting our employees and making them feel at home.
We place a strong emphasis on work-life balance and have introduced unique benefits to ensure our engineers stay motivated and avoid burnout. After all, building a semiconductor city isn’t just about fabs and tools—it’s about creating an environment where people can thrive.
TimesTech: Partnerships with OEMs are crucial. Can you share some insights into how you’re enabling these alliances and what impact they have on the larger semiconductor supply chain?
Karthik: At Orbit & Skyline, we act as a bridge between leading OEMs and fabs, enabling seamless collaboration across the semiconductor lifecycle. From tool qualification to lifecycle engineering, supply chain logistics, and comprehensive tool maintenance—we manage over 3,000 semiconductor tools worldwide in partnership with major OEMs.
These alliances allow fabs in India to operate complicated semiconductor tools without relying on frequent OEM visits, reducing downtime and dependency. By delivering world-class maintenance, we help fabs achieve higher tool uptime, save millions in operational costs, and improve overall efficiency and reliability.
But partnerships go beyond tools—they’re about trust, responsiveness, and shared goals. We work closely with OEMs to ensure that every deployment is smooth, and every engineer is equipped to deliver excellence. This collaboration is key to building a resilient and efficient semiconductor ecosystem in India.
TimesTech: Looking ahead, what does “What’s Next” look like for Orbit & Skyline and for India’s ambition to become a global semiconductor hub?
Karthik: For Orbit & Skyline, the next phase involves scaling training for thousands of engineers, strengthening OEM partnerships, and improving fab lifecycle management. For India, “What’s Next” is about evolving from individual fabs to a fully integrated global semiconductor ecosystem, where design, manufacturing, supply chain, and talent development work in harmony to make India a true global leader.
