Prime Minister Narendra Modi once likened the government's role in the semiconductor industry to an "And Gate" – actively collaborating with industry to accelerate growth. Four years since the first SEMICON India event in Bengaluru, this vision is materializing as India moves beyond merely attracting projects to actively building a comprehensive semiconductor ecosystem, backed by a Rs 1.28 lakh crore program.
Laying the Groundwork: SEMICON India 2022
The inaugural SEMICON India in April 2022, following the government's Rs 76,000 crore Semicon India Programme, focused on convincing global players of India's serious commitment. Key outcomes included Applied Materials committing Rs 1,800 crore for R&D and supply chain development. Crucial partnerships were forged, such as SEMI and ELCINA's MoU for ecosystem promotion, CDAC and Qualcomm's collaboration for design startups, and AICTE, SEMI, and the India Semiconductor Mission joining forces for workforce development.
Attracting Global Investments: SEMICON India 2023
By July 2023, the second edition in Gandhinagar saw a significant increase in global industry presence and concrete commitments. AMD pledged $400 million over five years to establish India as its largest design center. A notable MoU between the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), IISc's CeNSE, and Lam Research India aimed to train 60,000 nano-fabrication professionals. Arm also expanded its Flexible Access program to Indian semiconductor startups under the Design Linked Incentive scheme, offering processor IP and tools at no license fee.
Raising the Stakes: SEMICON India 2024
SEMICON India 2024 in Greater Noida arrived after government approval for major projects like Micron's assembly facility and semiconductor ventures by CG Power and Tata Electronics. Corporate announcements reflected growing ambition: NXP planned to increase R&D investment in India to over $1 billion, while L&T Semiconductor Technologies announced a $300 million investment to build a fabless semiconductor company, planning 15 products and collaborating with IBM. The event also highlighted the increasing importance of advanced packaging, 2.5D/3D integration, and chiplets, aligning with the expanding policy conversation around a second phase of the semiconductor program.
Indigenous Achievements: SEMICON India 2025
The 2025 edition marked a significant milestone with Prime Minister Modi being presented with chips designed by Indian students and fabricated at the Semiconductor Laboratory in Mohali. The indigenous Vikram-32 processor, developed by ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, was also showcased. New partnerships included Tata Electronics and Merck for semiconductor materials, and Tata Electronics and C-DAC for domestic semiconductor design and IP. Kaynes announced localized automotive camera modules and a collaboration with Infineon for MEMS microphones. Furthermore, the India Deep Tech Alliance secured over $1 billion in investor commitments, initially targeting semiconductors.
Towards an Integrated Ecosystem: SEMICON India 2026
The latest SEMICON India event in New Delhi shifts its focus from securing new billion-dollar fab announcements to building the crucial supporting ecosystem for already approved projects. While major fiscal support applications under Semicon 2.0 will follow a separate evaluation process, the conference serves as a vital platform for fostering conversations and partnerships that will underpin future investments and ensure the sustained growth of India's burgeoning semiconductor sector.