Can SEMICON India 2025 Transform India's Semiconductor Ambitions?

New Delhi, Sep 4 (NationPress) The SEMICON India 2025 event wrapped up here on Wednesday, reinforcing India's aspiration to emerge as a global semiconductor leader through essential collaborations with worldwide organizations, as reported.

This gathering, the largest of its kind, drew in over 350 exhibitors from 33 nations and attracted more than 15,000 visitors, according to a report by India Narrative.

The event, themed 'Building the Next Semiconductor Powerhouse', showcased India’s rapid progress under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), which has already pledged close to 65,000 crore so far, the report highlighted.

Jointly organized by ISM and SEMI, the global semiconductor industry association, the event focused on technological advancements and encouraged collaboration throughout the supply chain.

ASML Holding NV, a leader in semiconductor lithography, declared its plans to enhance its partnership with Indian companies in the coming year.

Launched in 2021, the ISM includes a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme valued at Rs 76,000 crore aimed at boosting local manufacturing and design within the semiconductor sector.

Current approved projects total approximately 1.60 lakh crore, featuring Tata Electronics’ Rs 91,000 crore fab unit in Dholera, Micron’s Rs 22,516 crore packaging facility in Sanand, and CG Power’s new OSAT pilot line that began operations in August.

India is transitioning from traditional silicon-based semiconductors to Silicon Carbide (SiC), which is more durable and heat-resistant (up to 2,400 degrees Celsius), making it suitable for defense and space applications, as per the report.

In terms of design, India is advancing towards 3D glass packaging for high-performance chips.

The event included a 'Workforce Development Pavilion' aiming for a goal of training 1 million skilled workers by 2030, along with a SEMI University Programme offering over 800 technical and business training courses.

Additionally, it showcased a 'Design Startup Pavilion' that highlighted indigenous chip design innovations.

The gathering emphasized investment commitments, workforce training, sustainable manufacturing, and homegrown design. India has educated 60,000 students and produced 20 chips through local institutions, transitioning from a consumer to a creator role in the global chip economy.

As Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, China, and the US continue to dominate chip production, this concentration poses supply chain risks that India aims to address.

India’s semiconductor market was valued at $38 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach between $45 to $50 billion in 2024–25 and $100 to $110 billion by 2030. Globally, the semiconductor market is anticipated to grow to $1 trillion by the same timeframe.