The central government has launched the SEMICON India program with an investment of ₹76,000 crore, which is being implemented through the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM). SEMICON India aims to bring together global industry leaders, policymakers, academia and startups on one platform to promote investment, dialogue and strategic partnerships. SEMICON India has played a major role in furthering the goals of ISM (India Semiconductor Mission). It promotes international collaboration, connects research with industry, helps in skill development and showcases India’s growing strength in the global semiconductor market. The demand for chips in the world is growing very fast, but production is limited to a few select countries. Therefore, it is important to expand production globally.
India is emerging as a big player in this direction. Initiatives such as Make in India, Electronic Systems Design and Manufacturing (ESDM), Semicon India Program and ISM Mission have created a strong ecosystem for the industry. The global semiconductor market is set to reach $1 trillion by 2030, and India will have a major share in it.
Semicon India-2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate SEMICON India-2025 in New Delhi on Tuesday. So far, three editions have been held, the first in Bengaluru in 2022, the second in Gandhinagar in 2023, the third in Greater Noida in 2024, and the fourth will be held at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi from today, Tuesday. The three-day conference, from September 2 to 4, will focus on advancing a strong, resilient and sustainable semiconductor ecosystem in India. The event will be of great interest to business and technology leaders, researchers and industry analysts. It will be attended by various people from the microelectronics supply chain, such as managers, equipment manufacturers, design experts, scientists, engineers, college/graduate students, technicians and many others.
Special Attraction- Workforce Development Pavilion
- Attracting the next generation – creating a diverse talent pipeline.
- Nearly 1 million additional skilled workers will be required by 2030.
- “Chip In! Sessions” – Interesting presentations, leadership opportunities and interactive activities in microelectronics.
- Connecting students with STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) and guiding them towards semiconductor careers.
- Making the talent pipeline diverse and inclusive.
- SEMI, academic partners, and industry experts will work together to create innovative activities that will generate lasting interest in the upcoming high-tech workforce.
SEMI University Program
- Global Semiconductor provides the best technical and business training for industry professionals and new entrants.
- The curriculum includes 800+ on-demand courses
- Front-end and back-end manufacturing operations
- Principles of Chip Design
- Safety at Work
- Tech trends, and other topics
- This also includes content from classroom-based programs and webinars.
- Partnering with content providers makes training available faster.
- This helps in advancing career, growing business, contributing to the industry and preparing new workforce.
Sustainability
- There is a growing concern about creating sustainable and environmentally friendly businesses.
- Events such as Black Swan and Grey Rhino further complicate the risks and challenges.
- Issues: Global warming, climate change, depletion of water and natural resources.
- There is a need to reduce emissions and increase recycling.International Roundtables
- These will be special and high-level discussion forums.
- Industry leaders, government officials and international representatives will share their views in this.
- The key focus areas will be – strengthening semiconductor manufacturing and supply chain.Highlights of the program
- 350 exhibiting companies, 15,000+ visitors, 6 international roundtables, 4 country pavilions and participation from 9 Indian states. It will be South Asia’s largest semiconductor and electronics platform.
- India’s progress will be showcased, including 10 major projects – high-volume fabs, advanced packaging, compound semiconductors, OSAT units and government support to research and startups.
- Under the theme “Building the Next Semiconductor Superpower”, the event will feature in-depth discussions on new innovations and trends such as fabs, advanced packaging, smart manufacturing, AI, supply chain, sustainability, workforce development, design and startups.
- The 3-day event will feature 6 international roundtables, fireside chats and paper presentations aimed at addressing the complex challenges of the future.
- More than 280 academic institutions and 70+ startups are getting support under modern design tools and Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme.SEMICON India 2025 a premier international event
SEMICON India 2025 is a premier international event bringing together global leaders, innovators, academia, policymakers, and industry experts to advance India’s semiconductor future. The event will showcase India’s growing capabilities, policies, and collaborations with the goal of building a self-reliant and world-class semiconductor ecosystem.
Semiconductor
Semiconductors are special materials that can act as both conductors and insulators, sometimes blocking electricity and sometimes allowing it to flow. This makes them perfect for electronic circuits. When billions of semiconductors are combined into a chip, that device can suddenly make a phone call, take a photo, or help choose a safe landing site like Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander – all thanks to Indian technology and AI. A chip has millions of tiny switches (transistors) and many parts working together.
Be it mobile phones, electric vehicles (EVs) or national defence systems – these chips are the invisible heroes that make modern life possible.
Semiconductors are the backbone of modern technology
In fact, semiconductors are the backbone of modern technology. They power important sectors such as health, transportation, defense and space. With increasing digitalization and automation, chips have now become essential for economic security and strategic independence. When there was a shortage of chips during the Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war, the world understood its impact as electronics production was directly affected.
The demand for smaller and faster components for smart devices and the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) have pushed this industry forward even faster. Today, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, China and the US are leading in semiconductor production. Taiwan alone makes 60% of the world’s chips and 90% of the most advanced chips. This is why if the supply chain breaks, it can be a big threat. In view of this, many countries including India are building their own local chip factories and secure supply chains.
India’s role in the semiconductor market
India can contribute to the supply chain in three major pillars- Equipment – manufacturing of semiconductor equipment components with the help of MSMEs. Materials – use of chemicals, minerals and gases available in India and Services – India’s huge talent in R&D, logistics, AI, big data, cloud and IoT.
It is worth noting that in May 2025, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav inaugurated two state-of-the-art semiconductor design centers in Noida and Bengaluru. These centers are the first centers in India where work will be done on advanced 3-nanometer chip design. This is a major milestone in India’s semiconductor innovation journey. He said that designing at 3 nanometers is the real “next generation” technology. Till now India had created 7nm and 5nm designs, but this achievement shows a new height in semiconductor innovation.
India’s first Made in India chip will be launched soon
India is now leading in all three – design, packaging and manufacturing. Packaging technology is being upgraded to become the best in the world. In fabrication, India is moving from conventional silicon-based chips to silicon carbide (SiC) chips. SiC chips are more robust and can withstand temperatures up to 2400°C and high voltages. This technology is important for sectors such as defence, missiles, radars and space rockets. The collective efforts of the industry will soon lead to the launch of India’s first Made in India chip. With these advancements, India will be in a position to offer the world the best design, fabrication and manufacturing ecosystem.
India Semiconductor Mission
India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) aims to finance investments in semiconductor fabrication, display manufacturing and chip design to further integrate India into the global electronics value chain. It is envisaged to be led by global experts from the semiconductor and display industry. It aims to build a strong semiconductor and display ecosystem in India and make India the world’s electronics manufacturing and design hub. ISM acts as the nodal agency for the efficient and smooth implementation of these schemes. So far, 10 semiconductor projects have been approved in 6 states. These include the first silicon carbide (SiC) fab and an advanced packaging unit in Odisha. These projects will attract a total investment of ₹1.60 lakh crore and will put India at par with global leaders.
Focus of ISM
Setting up chip manufacturing plants (Fabs).
Setting up packaging and testing units.
Promoting startups in chip design.
Training young engineers.
Attracting global companies to invest in India.
Objectives of ISM
- To develop a long-term strategy for building sustainable semiconductor and display manufacturing facilities and a semiconductor design ecosystem in the country.
- Adopting secure microelectronics and developing a reliable semiconductor supply chain, including raw materials, specialty chemicals, gases, and manufacturing equipment.
- To give a multi-pronged boost to the Indian semiconductor design industry by providing EDA tools, foundry services and other support to early stage startups.
- Promote indigenous intellectual property in the country.
Encourage and facilitate transfer of technology. - To make appropriate arrangements to achieve mass production in the Indian semiconductor and display industry.
- Promote cutting edge research in the semiconductor and display industry through grants, global collaboration, academic institutions, industry and establishment of Centres of Excellence (CoEs).
- To develop collaboration and partnership programmes with national and international agencies, industries and institutions to promote joint research, commercialization and skill development.
Skill Development and Support under ISM
Skill development programs, training workshops and certification courses have been started for the youth under the India Semiconductor Mission. These initiatives provide practical experience, industry connections and mentorship to students and engineers, which helps advance both their career and skills. The new projects alone will create more than 2,000 direct jobs and several thousand indirect jobs in the electronics and manufacturing sector.
So far, more than 60,000 students have benefited from these training programmes, preparing a new generation of engineers and designers. Research institutes and universities play a vital role in this mission. They are contributing to developing new technologies, conducting research and grooming talent. Collaboration between industry and academia is being encouraged to address technological challenges through innovation, knowledge sharing and joint projects.
Government initiatives to develop talent in semiconductor chip design
- AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) launched new courses for VLSI Design and Technology and Integrated Circuit (IC) Manufacturing. 85,000 expert engineers are being prepared in the coming 10 years and they are being provided with EDA tools for chip design.
- 45,000+ students have been enrolled from 100 institutes so far. SMART Lab has been started at NIELIT, Calicut with the aim to train 1 lakh engineers. 44,000+ engineers have been trained so far. Collaboration with international companies and universities like Lam Research, IBM and Purdue University. C2S Program (Chips to Startup): EDA tools have been provided to 278 academic institutes and 72 startups by August 2025.
- Additionally, 60,000 students have benefited by August 2025.
So far, 20 chips have been manufactured from 17 institutes (by August 2025).
Future Skills Program: Government initiative to train 20,000 engineers in Madhya Pradesh. Micron and IIT Roorkee have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote innovation and create a highly skilled workforce. Taking advantage of India’s large talent pool, global semiconductor design companies are now rapidly expanding their teams in India and designing cutting-edge chips here.
India’s ambitious semiconductor journey, exemplified by SEMICON India 2025, marks the beginning of a transformative era where technological self-reliance and innovation are gaining new dimensions. This journey has been strengthened by government initiatives such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.
At the same time, with large financial investments, strategic use of resources and a clear goal of creating a holistic ecosystem, India is now laying the foundation for global leadership in the semiconductor sector. Wise use of resources has ensured that India is not just investing but also building a strong base that will power all industries from electronics to automobiles and position the country as a global leader in the times to come.
