Global firms and academia eye India's semiconductor growth at SEMICON India 2026
India's growing semiconductor ecosystem is attracting significant attention from international industry leaders and academic institutions. As the nation builds its domestic manufacturing capabilities, global players are looking to tap into the local market while educational bodies ramp up efforts in chip development and specialized training.
Speaking at the SEMICON India 2026 event on Thursday, various participants identified several critical pillars for the country's success. These include the expansion of supply chains, deeper collaboration between academia and industry, the development of indigenous chips, and intensive workforce training to meet rising demands.
Academic institutions lead indigenous chip development
Educational institutions are playing a pivotal role in this technological shift by moving beyond theory into practical manufacturing. Professor Dr Manmadha Rao from the Gayatri Vidya Parishad College of Engineering shared that his institution is actively working toward manufacturing silicon chips through its dedicated Bharat Silicon Labs.
In addition to silicon chips, the college is also in the process of developing a microcontroller. For the first time, academia is coming up with a chip, Dr Rao noted, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to interact with innovators and bridge the gap between knowledge and societal industry needs.
To ensure students are ready for the professional world, J Bhaskar Rao from the same college emphasized the importance of bridging the gap between classroom training and actual industry requirements. He noted that students often lack sufficient opportunities to work on projects that align with what companies actually need.
To solve this, the college has established a specialized laboratory where students can participate in industry-led projects. The goal is to invite industry professionals to the lab to showcase student skills and create meaningful interactions that lead to better career opportunities and placements.
Global companies enter the Indian market
International corporations are also signaling their intent to expand their presence in India as the semiconductor ecosystem matures. This influx of global expertise and technology is expected to accelerate the country's journey toward becoming a semiconductor hub.
Koichi Yamamura from Japan's Inabata & Co. announced that his company is entering the Indian market for the very first time. His company specializes in manufacturing local scrubbers, which are essential tools used to abate toxic greenhouse gases and explosive gases within the semiconductor industry.
Yamamura expressed high expectations for this move, stating that the company aims to find customers and make the most out of this new market entry. This move highlights the growing demand for specialized industrial equipment as India's manufacturing base expands.
Strengthening the supply chain and workforce
Beyond manufacturing, experts at the event highlighted the necessity of a robust support system to sustain long-term growth. This includes both the physical supply chain and the human capital required to run it.
Hing Kee Neoh from Singapore-based IAQ Technology International pointed out that India must undergo a rapid transformation to catch up with the rest of the world. He noted that the transformation objective is high, but believes the country is capable of reaching its goals.
According to the discussions at SEMICON India 2026, the key focus areas for the ecosystem include:
Expansion of the semiconductor supply chain
Deeper industry-academia collaboration
Development of indigenous chip technology
Comprehensive workforce and skills training