IIT Guwahati beats 803 teams to win Lam Research Challenge 2026
By TUF News Desk · Published 7 November 2026 · 3 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
803 teams entered the competition. Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati finished first.
The institute won the third Lam Research Challenge, a national contest in semiconductor systems engineering, after a two-day finale at PES University in Bengaluru on November 5 and 6. IIT Ropar finished second, and National Institute of Technology Calicut took third place.
A three-month contest, decided in two days
More than 3,000 students took part, in 803 teams from 189 colleges across 23 states and four Union Territories. A selection process spread over three months cut that field to 25 finalist teams from 20 institutions, including 10 IITs, two NITs and two BITS campuses. Each team had four students from different disciplines.
The finalists spent two days at PES University working through the closing rounds. The challenge is one of the few national competitions in India built around systems engineering for semiconductor manufacturing, a field that pulls together hardware, software, automation, data science and process engineering.
What the finalists had to solve
The teams worked on problems from semiconductor manufacturing, developing solutions to the kind of production problems chip factories deal with every day. Entries were judged on innovation, technical skill, teamwork and how they performed under pressure.
“Semiconductor manufacturing is one of the most sophisticated engineering environments in the world today, requiring talent that can solve complex, systems-level challenges. The Lam Research Challenge is designed to help students build these capabilities while gaining exposure to engineering problems shaping the future of our industry,” said Rangesh Raghavan, corporate vice-president and managing director of Lam Research India.
Why the win fits India’s chip push
The win comes as India tries to grow its semiconductor workforce. Lam Research works with the India Semiconductor Mission and the Indian Institute of Science on a programme meant to train up to 60,000 engineers over the next decade. It also runs Semiverse Solutions, a training platform for advanced manufacturing, along with other skill programmes for the sector.
Those skills matter more as artificial intelligence drives demand for advanced semiconductors. The competition is built around exactly that mix: systems engineering across hardware, software, automation, data science and process engineering.
What the winners get
The winning teams shared prize money of Rs 10 lakh. Selected participants will also get internship opportunities with Lam Research.
Guwahati went one better than last year. In the 2025 edition, a team from Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology in Delhi won the title, with IIT Guwahati finishing second and NIT Calicut third. This time the Guwahati team took the top spot, with Ropar and Calicut behind it.
Students comparing IITs can use our NIRF rankings guide to see how the institutes are measured. The official IIT Guwahati website has details of the institute’s research and programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Lam Research Challenge?
It is a national semiconductor systems engineering competition for engineering students, run by Lam Research, a supplier of wafer fabrication equipment.
Who won the Lam Research Challenge 2026?
IIT Guwahati won the third edition. IIT Ropar finished second and NIT Calicut took third place.
How big was the 2026 competition?
It drew 803 teams from 189 colleges across 23 states and four Union Territories, with more than 3,000 students taking part. Twenty-five teams reached the finale.
What did the winners receive?
The winning teams shared prize money of Rs 10 lakh, and selected participants will get internship opportunities with Lam Research.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Lam Research Challenge?
It is a national semiconductor systems engineering competition for engineering students, run by Lam Research, a supplier of wafer fabrication equipment.
Who won the Lam Research Challenge 2026?
IIT Guwahati won the third edition. IIT Ropar finished second and NIT Calicut took third place.
How big was the 2026 competition?
It drew 803 teams from 189 colleges across 23 states and four Union Territories, with more than 3,000 students taking part. Twenty-five teams reached the finale.
What did the winners receive?
The winning teams shared prize money of Rs 10 lakh, and selected participants will get internship opportunities with Lam Research.
Sources: The Hans India, Trade Insight News, UNI India