India poised for unprecedented exponential growth in semiconductor sector, say industry leaders
India's semiconductor ecosystem is currently on a trajectory toward what industry experts are describing as unprecedented exponential growth. During the SEMICON India 2026 event held in New Delhi on September 17, prominent leaders from the global chip industry shared optimistic outlooks regarding the nation's manufacturing and research capabilities.
Industry veterans noted that the country is actively working to scale up its manufacturing processes, deepen its research and development efforts, and cultivate a highly skilled workforce. The consensus among the speakers was that the nation is moving rapidly toward becoming a central pillar in the global technology supply chain.
India's role in the global chip ecosystem
Addressing the gathering at SEMICON India 2026, Ajit Manocha, the President and CEO of SEMI, emphasized the significant momentum currently driving the Indian semiconductor industry. He remarked that the sector is progressing on the correct path following what he described as a remarkable year for the country.
Manocha highlighted that India has become an indispensable part of the global semiconductor ecosystem. He stressed that it is vital for the country to identify specific, key elements within the semiconductor value chain where it can establish a dominant position to ensure it remains essential to the world.
Micron's massive expansion and local impact
Sanjay Mehrotra, the CEO of Micron, provided specific details regarding his company's deep involvement in India's semiconductor journey. He noted that Micron has maintained a presence in the country for seven years, directly employing more than 7,000 people while simultaneously supporting tens of thousands of additional jobs across the broader semiconductor value chain.
Mehrotra revealed ambitious production targets for the company's operations in the region. He stated that their current production capacity is already greater than the total memory required for the entire laptop market in India. His roadmap for the facility in Sanand is highly aggressive:
- This year, the company will assemble and test tens of millions of chips at the Sanand site.
- Next year, that figure is expected to climb to hundreds of millions of chips.
He explained that the growing global demand for memory that is faster, denser, and more power-efficient is creating significant opportunities for Micron. The company began commercial production at its Sanand facility earlier this year, which serves as India's first semiconductor assembly and test plant and marks the first project under the India Semiconductor Mission.
Engineering innovation and workforce development
Beyond manufacturing, Mehrotra highlighted the significant engineering footprint Micron has established in India. He noted that the company's engineering presence in the country actually began long before the physical factory was established. Currently, the company's centers in Hyderabad and Bangalore serve as a core component of Micron's global technology network.
The impact of these local teams is substantial, with India-based teams having contributed to more than 3,700 patents, inventions, and disclosures. This demonstrates that India is not just a manufacturing hub but a vital center for high-level technological innovation.
Strengthening the semiconductor talent pool
Jochen Hanebeck, the CEO of Infineon Technologies, also spoke about the expanding footprint of his company within the country. He reported that Infineon now employs approximately 2,800 people in India, following a workforce increase of more than 28 per cent over the last year.
In addition to expanding its headcount, Infineon is placing a heavy emphasis on semiconductor skilling to prepare for future demands. In a collaborative effort with the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), the company has launched a new Centre of Excellence. This initiative is designed to equip the next generation of semiconductor engineers with the specific technical skills required for the future of the industry.