India’s Semiconductor Sector: Tracking Government Support and Investment Trends

India is seeking foreign investments for its indigenous semiconductor industry for the development and design of fabs, ATMP, among others. We look at the latest developments impacting India's semiconductor ambitions.

Latest updates

• Per a Business Standard report on October 2, iPhone contract manufacturer Foxconn will invest up to INR 4.24 billion in its yet-to-be-named semiconductor joint venture (JV) with HCL for an OSAT plant in India. According to an official company note: "If the potential investment of no more than US$13,310,000 (approx. INR 1.12 billion) is included, the total accumulated holding will not exceed US$50,510,000 (approx. INR 4.24 billion) and the cumulative shareholding ratio will be adjusted based on the actual capital increase."
  Prior to this, Foxconn had invested about INR 2.46 billion in the JV via its subsidiary Big Innovation Holdings and further increased it to INR 3.12 billion through Foxconn Hon Hai Technology India Mega Development Private Limited. Foxconn has a 40 percent stake in its JV with HCL.

• Tata Electronics and PSMC have completed the technology transfer pact for fab unit in Gujarat. The Economic Times is reporting - as of September 27 - that Tata Electronics has reached a definitive agreement with the Taiwanese foundry for the design and construction support to build India's inaugral AI-enabled greenfield semiconductor fabrication plant. Further, in order to ensure the effective transfer of technology to Tata's fab unit, PSMC will license a broad portfolio of technologies, alongside providing engineering support. Tata's Gujarat fab is set to manufacture chips for applications like power management IC, display drivers, microcontrollers (MCU), and high-performance computing logic. These chips will target demand in AI, automotive, computing, data storage, and wireless communication markets.

• Per reporting in the Indian Express, as of September 9, 2024, there are 12 India startup firms receiving financial assistance under the DLI Scheme out of 59 applicants. Also, 21 applications are currently under review. For more details, read our article: India’s Emerging Semiconductor Ecosystem: Key Players
• The Indian government will launch the next phase of the India Semiconductor Mission within six months, said Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on September 17. Besides enhanced funding scope, the focus of the next phase will be developing new semiconductor hubs, such as in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
• Tata Electronics is expanding its semiconductor manufacturing capabilities with two additional fabrication plants (fabs) in Dholera, Gujarat. The first fab, in partnership with Taiwan's PSMC, is currently under construction, and will manufacture chips for sectors like automotive, AI, and wireless communication. It is expected to begin production in 2026, producing up to 50,000 wafers per month.
  Plans for the new - second and third fabs - to be built in the next five to seven years, are still evolving, with future partnerships and technology choices depending on market conditions.
• A recently proposed US$10-billion joint semiconductor fab proposal by Israel’s Tower Semiconductor and India’s Adani Group is currently under review as part of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM). ISM CEO Akash Tripathi announced during a press conference on September 9 that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has requested additional details from the entities involved in the project. While under consideration by MeitY, the previous week, the Maharashtra cabinet approved the establishment of a semiconductor fab unit in Panvel, near Mumbai, through a joint venture between the Adani Group and Tower Semiconductor.
• Larsen & Toubro Ltd. has announced its plan to invest over US$300 million to establish a fabless chip company in India, aiming to design 15 products by 2027. This move aligns with India’s push to reduce semiconductor imports and build local capacity amid global supply chain shifts. According to media reports, the company seeks the central government’s support for chip design incentives but won’t seek external funding. India’s US$10 billion semiconductor initiative, first approved in 2021, has attracted major investments.
• On September 9, 2024, it was reported that India’s Tata Electronics has signed an MoU with Tokyo Electron (TEL) to purchase equipment and services for its semiconductor facilities in Gujarat and Assam. The partnership will focus on workforce training, R&D, and enhancing semiconductor infrastructure. Tata Electronics is investing INR 910 billion (US$10.84 billion) in its Gujarat Fab and INR 270 billion (US$3.21 billion) in its Assam assembly and testing unit. The facilities will produce chips for sectors like automotive, mobile devices, and AI. TEL aims to leverage India's talent for engineering services to support its global product development, accelerating innovation and development across multiple technologies.
• In September 2024, the US state department announced that the country will partner with India’s Semiconductor Mission to explore opportunities for strengthening the global semiconductor supply chain under the ITSI Fund, part of the CHIPS Act of 2022. Through this collaboration, a comprehensive assessment of India's semiconductor infrastructure and regulatory framework will be conducted, involving stakeholders like state governments and educational institutions. The insights will guide future joint initiatives to boost this critical sector.
• As of September 5, India and Singapore have signed multiple agreements during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the country, including in the areas of semiconductor cluster development and the cultivation of talent in semiconductor design and manufacturing. 
• Per a government press (PIB) update: The construction of the four previously approved semiconductor units is advancing rapidly, contributing to the development of a strong semiconductor ecosystem around them. These units will attract nearly INR 1.5 trillion (US$18.15 billion) in investment and will have a combined production capacity of approximately 70 million chips per day. (The four projects are a Tata-PSMC commercial fab plant and three ATMP/OSAT plants.)

• The Kaynes Semicon unit at Sanand will have the capacity to produce 6 million chips per day that will cater to applications across a wide variety of industries, including automotive, electric vehicles, consumer electronics, telecom, and mobile phones.
• On September 2, Monday, India's Union Cabinet approved a proposal by Kaynes Semicon to set up a semiconductor unit in Sanand, Gujarat, with an investment of INR 33.07 billion (approx. US$394.15 million). This will be the fifth semiconductor unit approved under the India Semiconductor Mission and the second to be set up in Sanand.
• The Assam Government has expedited the establishment of a semiconductor unit in Morigaon by signing a 60-year lease agreement with the Tata Group for over 170 acres of land. The facility will be located at the site of the defunct Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited and Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt Ltd (“TSAT”) will invest INR 270 billion to set it up.
  Also reported in The Economic Times, Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the first semiconductor chip from the Jagiroad unit in Assam will be produced by 2025. He also disclosed plans to establish a Skill Development Centre co-located within the semiconductor facility in Jagiroad. This center aims to empower Northeastern youths with courses in Artificial Intelligence, semiconductors, and electronics, facilitating their employment in the Jagiroad unit. Currently, 1,500 youths from Assam, predominantly women, are undergoing training at Tata facilities in and around Bangalore, preparing them for leadership roles once the semiconductor facility begins operations in 2025.
• On July 15, global chip giant AMD announced a partnership with the Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE) at IIT Bombay. Through this collaboration, AMD will provide grants to startups incubated at IIT Bombay that are working on developing energy-efficient Spiking Neural Network (SNN) chips. The initiative aims to significantly reduce the energy consumption of conventional neural networks. Numelo Technologies received the first grant under this partnership to develop SNN chips using ultralow power quantum tunneling on silicon on insulator (SOI) technology.
• INC42 profiles 15 Indian semiconductor startups that it believes will strengthen the foundation of the sector ecosystem in India: Saankhya Labs, Mindgrove Technologies, Terminus Circuits, Morphing Machines, FermionIC Design, Oakter, Agnit Semiconductors, Incore Semiconductors, SignOff Semiconductors, Cientra, Silizium Circuits, Aura Semiconductor, Vervesemi, Sensemi, and Netrasemi.
• Read our overview as three new plants from the Tata Group and CG Power-Renesas join Micron in advancing the manufacturing capacity in India's semiconductor sector: India's Semiconductor Sector Welcomes Three New Manufacturing Units.
• Union Minister Ashwini Vishnaw says that Tata's semiconductor chip fabrication unit in Gujarat was approved with an outlay of nearly INR 500 billion. Further, Tata Electronics' plant for assembling and packaging of semiconductors at Jagiroad, Assam, was approved at a financial outlay of INR 400 billion; the Assam state government will contribute around INR 210 billion.
• Of note, however, is that this Tata-PSCMC fab unit will not produce cutting-edge nodes that requires a level of technology currently not available to these companies.
• As per a Tata company release dated February 29, 2024: The Government of India has approved a proposal from Tata Electronics to build a mega semiconductor fabrication facility in Dholera, Gujarat, as part of the "Make in India, For the World" initiative. Tata Electronics, in partnership with Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC), will invest INR 910 billion (~US$11 billion) in the project, which is expected to create over 20,000 skilled jobs. The Fab will have the capacity to produce up to 50,000 wafers per month, utilizing AI-enabled automation and data analytics for enhanced efficiency. It will manufacture chips for applications such as power management ICs, microcontrollers, and high-performance computing logic, addressing demand in industries like automotive, computing, and artificial intelligence.
• It is being reported by the Press Trust of India that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the country's first semiconductor fab facility - a collaboration between Tata and Powerchip Taiwan - that will be set up in Dholera, Gujarat. The fab plant will be built at a net investment of INR 270 billion and will produce 48 million chips a day.
• Samsung Semiconductor India Research (SSIR) has inaugurated a semiconductor R&D facility in India at Bengaluru.
• Two Karnataka-based semiconductor firms, Saankhya Labs, a subsidiary of Tejas Network, and Sensesemi Technologies are latest beneficiaries approved under the Design-Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) at the Digital India FutureLABS Summit 2024.
  Saankhya Labs is a wireless communication and semiconductor solutions company specializing in designing products and solutions tailored for broadband, satellite, and broadcast applications, covering areas such as 5G NR, Direct to Mobile (D2M) Broadcast, rural broadband connectivity, satellite communication modems for IoT applications, and multi-standard DTV modulators and demodulators.
  Sensesemi will develop the Systems on Chip (SoC) for Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) and IoT devices, integrating MCU and wireless IP with an ultra-low power analog front end featuring AI inferencing IP. The goal is to advance India's semiconductor capabilities by delivering connected SoC solutions for applications like smart wearables, the medical technology sector, and other connected devices.
• Murugappa Group's CG Power and Industrial Solutions Ltd. (CG Power) has formed a joint venture with Renesas Electronics America Inc. (Renesas) and Stars Microelectronics (Thailand) Public Co. Ltd. (Stars) to establish an outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing (OSAT) facility in Gujarat, India. CG has also inked agreements with Renesas Electronics Corporation, Japan, and Stars for technology, services, offtake, manufacturing, technology know-how sharing, and technical support. The JV formation awaits necessary approvals from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and subsidies from central and state governments. The investment breakdown includes US$205 million from CG, US$15 million from Renesas, and US$2 million from Stars, with the total equity capital representing 92.34 percent, 6.76 percent, and 0.90 percent, respectively. In November, CG had disclosed plans to invest approximately US$791 million over five years for the OSAT venture.
• Israeli chipmaker Tower Semiconductor is on the verge of securing an US$8 billion fabrication plant in India, reports the Indian Express. Tower Semi will need to indicate an investment partner according to experts, per the Scheme norms. Should the proposal gain governmental approval, it would mark the first instance of a top-10 global semiconductor company bringing genuine fabrication expertise to participate in India's US$10 billion chip manufacturing initiative. The government is currently evaluating Tower's proposal and aims to approve it before the implementation of the model code of conduct preceding this year's general elections. A previous application under the scheme fell through as Intel Corp had been in the process of acquiring the Israeli firm, which ultimately did not materialize as it did not secure regulatory approval from China.
• According to sources familiar with the matter, the government has received nine bids for the overhaul of its Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) in Mohali, with companies such as the Tata Group, Tower Semiconductor, and Texas Instruments among the bidders.
  US$1 billion has been earmarked by the government for the modernization of the 48-year old state-owned facility, which is India's only chip manufacturing unit producing semiconductors for strategic and defense purposes, including applications for space exploration such as the Chandrayaan mission.
  Once the government decides on the specific nodes for manufacturing, financial bids will be solicited from the interested companies. The selected firm may need to collaborate with a technology firm possessing licensing grade semiconductor technology.
  The Tata Group is planning to set up a fab unit in Dholera; Tower intends to get into 65 and 40 nanometer fab production in India and had previously helped SCL set up its 180 nm chip plant; and Texas Instruments has significant chip R&D operations in India.
• HCL, the Indian IT sector conglomerate, is pursuing a joint venture (JV) with Taiwanese electronics manufacturing services giant Foxconn to set up a semiconductor Outsourced Assembly and Testing (OSAT) unit in India; Foxconn will have 40 percent equity for US$37.2 million. Specific information about the nature of the OSAT facility is as yet undisclosed. While HCL started out as a hardware company, its current focus lies predominantly in providing design services within the semiconductor domain. The strategic shift under the JV with Foxconn is expected to move the company higher up the value chain, per industry experts.
• On January 18, India's cabinet approved an initial pact signed between India and the European Union to boost cooperation in the semiconductor space. The MoU between India and the European Commission on Working Arrangements on semiconductor ecosystems, its supply chain, and innovation had been signed November 21, last year, under the framework of EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC).
• Micron Technology President and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra has stated that Phase 1 of the company's plant at Sanand, Gujarat, will become operational by early 2025. It will include 500,000 square feet of plant clean room space. He made the comments during the 2024 Vibrant Gujarat Summit. The "clean room" is typically expected to host the ATMP operation as it requires a near-zero dust and vibration environment. Micron Technology has already hired 200 people for the Sanand Plant, who are currently receiving training at facilities in Mohali and Malaysia. Upon completion of both phases, Micron expects to create 5,000 jobs in the state. Phase 2 is slated for the second half of the ongoing decade.
• Also at the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, Jeffery Chun, the Global CEO of South Korea's Simmtech, known for producing high-layer printed circuit boards (PCBs) for semiconductors, announced plans to make another colocation investment with Micron. Chun expressed readiness to invest in Gujarat, citing support from both Central and state governments, with the potential to generate thousands of jobs. More details are awaited.
• At the 2024 Vibrant Gujarat Summit, which is being held between January 10-12 in the state capital of Gandhinagar, Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekaran announced plans for the conglomerate to set up a large semiconductor fabrication plant in Dholera, Gujarat. Chandrasekaran said that the project is reportedly in its final stages of negotiations and operations would commence within the year.
• A report in the Economic Times says Israel’s chipmaker Tower Semiconductors has resubmitted a proposal to set up a semiconductor fabrication unit for 65 nm and 40 nm chips in India. However, the company is also facing legal action from its previous JV partner, Abu Dhabi-based Next Orbit Ventures, for submitting a fresh proposal with a new partner. There is speculation in the industry that Tower Semiconductors' new partner in the latest proposal could be the BC Jindal group, a major manufacturer of packaging and labelling products.
• The Taiwanese electronics manufacturing services giant, Foxconn, recently submitted an application to establish a semiconductor fabrication unit in India recently submitted an application to establish a semiconductor fabrication unit in India under the “modified scheme for setting up of semiconductor fabs in India”, said Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Minister of State for Electronics and IT. Foxconn previously exited from a joint venture with the Vedanta Group, which had plans to set up a chip plant in Gujarat with an investment of around INR 1.5 trillion.
• India and the European Union signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on November 24 concerning semiconductors, aiming to foster a resilient supply chain and promote innovation. The agreement was formalized during a stock-taking call among the leaders of the EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC). Key points in the MoU include sharing experiences and information on semiconductors ecosystems, identifying areas for joint research and innovation, promoting skills development and workforce collaboration, and ensuring a fair competitive environment by exchanging information on publicly granted subsidies.
• HCL is holding active discussions with the Karnataka state government to set up an OSAT facility (chip packagng unit), per an Economic Times report. The company is planning to make an investment of about US$400 million to set up a "small-to-medium sized" facility. The government has offered land parcels near the Bengaluru international airport and Mysuru. State officials have indicated the comparative favorability of Mysuru due to its access to water resources. At this stage it appears the government will be open to more sops if the firm seeks tweaks to the incentives package. The HCL Group's IT services arm, HCLTech, acquired Sankalp Semiconductor in 2019. Sankalp Semiconductor is based in Palo Alto, California and Hubli, India with offices in USA, India, Canada, Germany, Malaysia, Japan. It is a preferred semiconductor design service partner of top chip manufacturers, design foundries, and OEMs across the globe like TSMC.
• As of the end of October 2023, the government has received a total of 45 applications under its INR 760 billion semiconductor and display manufacturing scheme. These applications cover five requests for the establishment of semiconductor fabs, two for display fabs, nine for the setup of compound and ATMP facilities, and 29 for the design-linked incentive scheme.
• Speaking on the sidelines of the AMD campus launch, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, told media that India expected three new semiconductor fabrication units in the coming months, with a combined investment ranging from US$8 to US$12 billion, inclusive of government incentives. Discussions are currently underway with the governments of Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh on suitable locations. Vaishnaw also hinted at the possibility of two proposals emerging in the near future for the fabrication and outsourced semiconductor assembly and test sectors.
• American multinational semiconductor company AMD inaugurated its largest global design center, the Technostar research and development campus, on November 28, in Bengaluru, as part of a US$400 million investment over the next five years in India. The investment had previously been announced at the Semicon India 2023. Spanning 500,000 square feet, the Technostar campus will house around 3,000 engineers and focus on the development of CPUs, GPUs, adaptive SoCs, and FPGAs for personal computers and data centers. The facility features a state-of-the-art research and development lab, a visitor demo center, and collaborative huddle spaces. Jaya Jagadish, India Country Head for AMD said in a company press release, “The India Design Centre started with a handful of employees in 2004. Today, 25% of AMD’s global workforce is located in India and they support the development of AMD leadership products for data center, gaming, PC and embedded customers. This new facility marks the next milestone in our growth journey to be a significant contributor in the advancement of semiconductors.”
• India's Ministry of External Affairs stated in a press release on November 24 that an MoU had been reached between India and the EU on semiconductors, ahead of the virtual India – EU Trade and Technology Council meeting. The press released explained: "The MoU, aims at increasing resilience of semi-conductors value chain in India and EU and covers cooperation in wide areas covering research and innovation, talent development, partnerships and exchange of market information." The next India-EU TTC meeting is expected to be scheduled for "early next year" at a mutually convenient date as will be the India-EU Summit.
• In a filing with stock exchanges, CG Power and Industrial Solutions, a part of the Murugappa Group, stated that it has formally applied to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to establish an outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) facility. The proposed investment for this venture amounts to US$791 million (INR 65.92 billion), to be spread over a five-year period. The facility's primary function will involve the packaging and transportation of chips produced by third-party manufacturers. Only companies that receive government approval for their applications are eligible to receive a 50 percent subsidy from the government on the project cost. The respective state governments, where these projects are established, have the flexibility to supplement this subsidy with an additional amount of their choosing.
• Business Today are reporting that Larsen & Toubro plan to set up a subsidiary in the domain of fabless semiconductor chip design, at an investment of INR 8.3 billion. L&T are currently focused on the low-investment component of the chip supply chain. As this sector is investment heavy and market changes can result in long lead times, the move is considered more practical.
• Qualcomm Inc told media that the technology giant will outsource manufacture of semiconductor chips to India when the country has set up its own fab plants and OSAT facilities. Qualcomm sees growth opportunities in the Indian market for mass-market 5G phones, in the EV automotive software industry [Tech Mahindra and TCS being key IT innovators in this domain], for implementation of WiFi-6 and WiFi-7 technologies, and wireless fixed broadband solutions [collaborating with HFCL and VVDN].
• Homegrown electronics contract manufacturing services company Kaynes Technology has entered the OSAT/ATMP services domain via subsidiary Kaynes Semicon. The company is set to invest INR 28 billion to start a semiconductor OSAT and compound semiconductor facility at Kongara Kalan (near Telangana capital Hyderabad), near Foxconn's upcoming facility. It is estimated to create 2000 jobs. In the initial three years, Kaynes Semicon will assist global customers with various package types, including QFN (Quad Flat No-leads Package), SOT (Small Outline Transistor), TO (Transistor Outline), BGA (Ball Grid Array), and FC BGA (Flip-Chip Ball Grid Array) for power devices, as mentioned by a government official. The company is also in the process of establishing an R&D center for package research in collaboration with IIT Bombay.
• The Tata Group are reportedly drafting a proposal to tap into the government's semiconductor subsidy scheme, which they could submit in the next 3-6 months. Tata are also exploring overseas technology partnerships. The conglomerate last year announced its intentions to partner with chip makers and potentially launch an upstream fab unit, but did not apply to the initial round of proposals for the INR 760 billion-subsidy scheme.
• India's union cabinet has approved a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between India and Japan on the Japan-India Semiconductor Supply Chain Partnership - signed July 2023. The MoC is for a term of five years from the date of signature by the two countries. Per the government's press release on October 25, building upon ongoing initiatives such as the India-Japan Digital Partnership (IJDP) and India-Japan Industrial Competitiveness Partnership (IJICP), the MoC will expand and enhance collaboration within the realm of the electronics ecosystem.
• TATA Projects has secured the contract to construct Micron Technology's advanced semiconductor assembly and testing facility in Sanand, Gujarat. As per the company's statement, the Sanand Factory will be meticulously planned to adhere to the Green Building Council's LEED Gold Standards, incorporating cutting-edge water-saving technologies that will facilitate a Zero Liquid Discharge system. This underscores Tata Projects' dedication to sustainable construction practices.
  
• Micron Technology will establish its ATMP (Assembly, Test, and Packaging) plant spanning 1.4 million square feet in Sanand in two phases. The initial phase of this facility is scheduled to commence the production of packaged chips by December 2024. The second phase is planned for the latter half of the decade.
• Simmtech, the leading supplier to Micron Technology, Inc., a US-based chipmaker specializing in substrates, has obtained the green light to establish a facility in Sanand, Gujarat, in proximity to Micron's own manufacturing site, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Telecom, IT and Railways, told Mint.
• The government is planning for a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) cluster as part of the India AI program to support the growth of startups focused on training artificial intelligence models within India, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar told industry stakeholders on September 22. The government intends to provide support to both domestic startups and foreign companies that are interested in fostering indigenous intellectual property related to chip design for AI applications. This support will be extended through the INR 11-12 billion (US$132.61 million-US$144.67 million) design-linked incentive scheme.
• An industry stakeholder predicts that the semiconductor industry in India will generate a demand for 1.2 million jobs encompassing a wide range of roles, including engineers, operators, technicians, and more. This demand is expected to grow as manufacturing advances and design functions evolve.
• Micron Technology is set to commence construction on its semiconductor testing and assembly facility in Sanand, Gujarat, on Saturday, September 23. This development comes just three months after the US chipmaker first announced its plans to establish the plant at a total proposed investment of US$2.75 billion. Of this, Micron has committed to US$825 million and the Indian government will provide the remaining in subsidies.
• Rajasthan-based Sahasra Semiconductor, which is part of India's Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS), has stated that it will begin the commercial production of the first made-in-India memory chips at its Bhiwadi plant from September or early October 2023. This is per its CEO Varun Manwani as reported in the Financial Express. The company intends to package basic memory products like MicroSD cards and chip-on-board, to be followed by advanced packaging of products like internal memory chips. Sahasra gets a 25 percent financial incentive on capital expenditure under SPECS. Sahasra is an outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) company, meaning it assembles and packages chips for other brands.
• Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), a major US semiconductor chip design company, has plans to invest up to US$400 million in India over the next five years, per its Chief Technology Office Mark Papermaster. AMD aims to establish its largest design facility in Bengaluru, expanding its office presence to 10 locations in the country. With already over 6,500 employees in India, the new campus is expected to create around 3,000 additional engineering roles by the end of 2028. AMD is globally recognized for its leading semiconductor chip designs and stands as a chief competitor to Intel. While it doesn't manufacture chips itself, the company outsources this process to contract manufacturers such as TSMC.
  AMD's India investment plans is not tied to government incentives according to Papermaster.
• Following Micron's announcement regarding the establishment of a packaging and testing unit in India, reliable industry sources speaking to BusinessLine indicate that at least 4 to 5 leading suppliers of components and materials to the semiconductor sector are also poised to take a similar course of action. Prominent industry suppliers, such as Simmtech and Air Liquide, which specialize in providing printed circuit boards and high-purity industrial gases for chip manufacturing, are currently engaged in discussions with the Indian government to initiate their operations in India. As per a source speaking to the media, it appears that Simmtech, a Micron supply chain partner, has likely obtained government approval for its venture. The company is reportedly planning to establish its unit in the industrial town of Sanand, following the footsteps of Micron in this regard.
• The Indian Express is reporting that a 6-day event (July 25-30), called Semicon India 2023, focused on semiconductors, will be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. PM Modi is expected to inaugurate the main event on July 28. Per a government press release: “Companies such as Foxconn, Micron, AMD, IBM, Marvell, Vedanta, LAM Research, NXP Semiconductors, ST Microelectronics, Grantwood Technologies, Infineon Technologies, Applied Materials, and other prominent players in the sector will actively participate in this momentous event.”
  Semicon India 2023 will witness representation from twenty-three countries, along with Indian states, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. Notable academic institutions such as Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, IIT Madras, BITS Pilani, Ganpat University, and Nirma University will also be present, highlighting their role in driving India's semiconductor advancements, per reporting in the Hindustan Times.
• The central government has granted approval for the modernization of the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL, Mohali), intending to transform it into a brownfield chip manufacturing unit: Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar in a written reply to the Parliament Upper House on July 21, 2203.
• The Odisha Cabinet gave its approval on July 21 for the proposed Odisha Semiconductor Manufacturing & Fabless Policy. The proposed policy aims to attract investors and facilitate their entry into the manufacturing of semiconductor/electronic chips in the eastern state of Odisha. With the implementation of this policy, the state is optimistic about establishing at least one semiconductor manufacturing unit and attracting 100 fabless design companies to set up operations in Odisha. Under Odisha's semiconductor policy, attractive incentives of 25% will be provided for Silicon, Compound, Display & Advanced Technology Manufacturing Plants (ATMP), in addition to the Government of India's 50% incentive. Fabless product/IP companies will also benefit from a substantial 20% incentive. Moreover, the state of Odisha will extend support to 25 undergraduate and 25 postgraduate institutes, aiding them in research and development initiatives as well as capacity building.
• Japan's semiconductor manufacturer, Rapidus Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, will be an important part of the India-Japan MoU, Vaishnaw said. Rapidus Corporation was formed in August 2022 with the support of eight major Japanese companies: Denso, Kioxia, MUFG Bank, NEC, NTT, SoftBank, Sony, and Toyota.
• On July 20, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that India and Japan have formally agreed to establish a joint mechanism aimed at facilitating collaboration between their respective governments and industries in the field of semiconductors. This move, as reported by MoneyControl, comes as both nations recognize the strategic importance of semiconductor technology. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Japan covers five key areas of cooperation, which include semiconductor design, manufacturing, equipment research, talent development, and enhancing the resilience of the semiconductor supply chain.
  As part of the agreement, the two countries will establish an implementation organization responsible for facilitating collaboration between the government agencies and industries of both nations. This organization will work on fostering partnerships on both government-to-government and industry-to-industry levels, fostering innovation and technology exchange to bolster the semiconductor sector in both countries. The implementation organization will clear up any confusion among Japanese stakeholders about the India Semiconductor Mission.
• The Economic Times reported on July 19 that the Shiv Nadar-led HCL Group is considering a foray into the semiconductor sector. ET reported that the HCL Group is on the verge of presenting a proposal to the Centre for the establishment of an assembly, testing, marking, and packaging (ATMP) unit for semiconductors at an estimated project cost between US$200-300 million. The HCL Group as a maker of computer hardware and peripherals before venturing into the software segment.
• Foxconn is now reportedly engaged in discussions with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) and Japan's TMH Group to form new partnerships in order to establish semiconductor fabrication units in India. Both Foxconn and TSMC are headquartered in Taiwan. The Economic Times , July 14, stated that Foxconn is expected to reach an agreement soon regarding the specifics of the partnership, with a focus on producing advanced as well as legacy node chips. TSMC, a prominent player in the semiconductor industry, stands as one of the largest chip foundries globally. Meanwhile, TMH Group specializes in providing semiconductor-related solutions and offers services in the operation and maintenance of manufacturing equipment.
• Foxconn has reportedly communicated to the Indian government that it hopes to establish four to five semiconductor fabrication lines in India. The Taiwanese electronics manufacturer is expected to submit their final application within the next two months. Foxconn also reportedly told MeitY that it has reached two MoUs with technology partners; once it fulfills the government's requirements, the announcement will be made.
• On Monday, it was reported that Foxconn has pulled out of its joint venture with Vedanta. In a statement, the Taiwanese firm said, "Foxconn has determined it will not move forward on the joint venture with Vedanta. Foxconn is working to remove the Foxconn name from what now is a fully-owned entity of Vedanta".
  Meanwhile, Vedanta also issued a statement saying, "Vedanta reiterates that it is fully committed to its semiconductor fab project and we have lined up other partners to set up India’s first foundry. We will continue to grow our Semiconductor team, and we have the license for production-grade technology for 40 nm from a prominent Integrated Device Manufacturer (IDM)".
• Vedanta Group has acquired complete control of the joint venture established last year with Foxconn for semiconductor manufacturing in India. The joint venture, named Vedanta Foxconn Semiconductors Private Limited, was previously a wholly-owned subsidiary of Twin Star Technologies Limited, an entity within the Vedanta Group. In addition, Vedanta announced its intention to acquire a display glass manufacturing venture from Volcan Investments, the holding company of Vedanta. As part of the agreement reached last year, Volcan Investments and Foxconn had committed to investing US$19.5 billion in establishing semiconductor and display production facilities in Gujarat, in alignment with India's ambitions to emerge as a significant player in the electronics industry. According to David Reed, CEO of Vedanta’s Semiconductor Business, "Made in India semiconductors and display glass will facilitate affordable electronics - smartphones, laptops, televisions, and electric vehicles for all Indians."
• C-DAC has approved five applicants to the Design-Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme, which is a part of the INR 760 billion-budget Program for Development of Semiconductors and Display Manufacturing Ecosystem in India. The DLI Scheme aims to offer financial incentives as well as design infrastructure support across various stages of development and deployment of semiconductor design(s) for Integrated Circuits (ICs), Chipsets, System on Chips (SoCs), Systems & IP Cores and semiconductor linked design(s) over a period of 5 years.
• Officials announced on Saturday that a UK-based company is preparing to establish a semiconductor fabrication facility in the Ganjam district of Odisha. The news agency PTI reported that an initial investment of INR 300 billion will be allocated for the first phase of the project. The Indian division of SRAM & MRAM Group, known as SRAM & MRAM Technologies and Projects India Pvt Limited, previously signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state government on March 26 to establish the semiconductor unit. The company has set a target to establish the semiconductor unit within a span of two years, with the aim of creating job opportunities for 5,000 individuals. Furthermore, they have devised plans for future expansion of the facility, intending to invest approximately INR 2 trillion by 2027. The primary focus of the semiconductor unit will be the production of memory chips, which are widely used in mobile phones, television sets, laptops, air conditioners, and ATMs. Earlier, on June 11, it was reported that Nitin Gupta was appointed as Technical Director for the SRAM & MRAM Group's Odisha semiconductor project. More information is awaited.
• On June 28, Micron Technology, Inc entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat government in India. The agreement entails the establishment of a semiconductor unit worth INR 225 billion (US$2.74 billion) at Sanand, near Ahmedabad. Spanning across 93 acres in the Sanand GIDC-II industrial estate, the Assembly, Test, Marking, and Packaging (ATMP) facility aims to generate 5,000 direct job opportunities and is expected to be operational within 18 months. The facility's primary focus will be the conversion of wafers into Ball Grid Array (BGA)-integrated circuit packages, memory modules, and solid-state drives. (US$1=INR 82.06).
• In a statement, Vedanta Foxconn Semiconductors Limited (VFSL) announced that it has submitted a revised application to the central government, seeking incentives in accordance with the updated guidelines of the India Semiconductor Mission. Previously, VFSL had applied for incentives for manufacturing 28 nm chips. However, it has now modified its application to focus on producing 40 nm chips and receiving incentives in that specific category, according to a source. In May of this year, the IT ministry revised the guidelines for incentive applications, allowing applicants to apply once they possess production-grade technology or have formed partnerships with companies possessing such technology. VFSL is a joint venture between India's Vedanta Group and Taiwan's Foxconn group with a ratio of 67-33.
• Foxconn is reportedly approaching prominent Indian business houses to forge partnerships and advance its semiconductor manufacturing goals in India, according to sources cited by The Economic Times (June 27, 2023). Sources indicate that the year-old joint venture between Foxconn and the Vedanta Group may be encountering difficulties due to disagreements between the two partners. A senior Indian government official informed ET that the government has advised Foxconn to consider collaborating with a different partner. The concerns primarily revolve around the financial stability of the Vedanta Group.
• Per reporting in The Economic Times: Micron Technology will contribute US$825 million out of the total US$2.75 billion investment, while the remaining funds will come from the central government (50 percent) and the Gujarat state government (20 percent). The OSAT plant is planned to be established in Sanand, Gujarat, and is projected to commence operations in 2024. Although Micron is one of the leading makers of memory chips, such as DRAM, flash memory, and USB drives, it does not engage in actual chip manufacturing. According to Research and Markets, memory products contribute significantly to the semiconductor industry's revenue, accounting for 35 percent of total chip sales. Micron intends to utilize the facility in India to cater to local demand and export to South Asian markets.
  India's smartphone market is currently valued at US$30 billion and assembles 150 million phones daily. Apple has expressed its intentions to expand its sourcing efforts in India, while Google Pixel is reportedly considering shifting a portion of its device production to the country. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) anticipates that the electronics manufacturing sector in India will reach a value of US$300 billion by 2026. It is important to note that India heavily relies on chip imports for these electronic devices, and the projected import bill for chips alone is expected to reach approximately US$64 billion by 2026.
• On June 22, Micron Technology, an American semiconductor manufacturer, revealed its plans to allocate a maximum of US$825 million for establishing a fresh chip assembly and testing facility in India. Micron stated that with backing from the Centre and the Gujarat government, the total investment in the factory will amount to US$2.75 billion. According to a media release on the company website: "Micron’s new facility will enable assembly and test manufacturing for both DRAM and NAND products and address demand from domestic and international markets. Phased construction of the new assembly and test facility in Gujarat is expected to begin in 2023. Phase 1, which will include 500,000 square feet of planned cleanroom space, will start to become operational in late 2024, and Micron will ramp capacity gradually over time in line with global demand trends. Micron expects Phase 2 of the project, which would include construction of a facility similar in scale to Phase 1, to start towards the second half of the decade."
• PM Modi also met with Gary E. Dickerson, CEO, Applied Materials and invited the firm for the development of process technology and advanced packaging capabilities in India. Modi and Dickerson discussed potential of Applied Materials’ collaboration with academic institutions in India to create skilled workforce.
• "[Prime Minister Modi has] invited Micron Technology to boost semiconductor manufacturing in India," according to an official statement issued by the external affairs ministry. Modi met with Mr. Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO of Micron on June 21, 2023 in Washington DC during his official visit to the country.
• Reuters has reported June 20 that the Indian cabinet has given its approval to Micron's US$2.7 billion investment plan to set up a semiconductor ATMP unit in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government's approval came in just ahead of Modi's first official state visit to the US.
• According to sources speaking to The Economic Times, Micron's investment is intended for the establishment of an outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) unit, which will consist of a minimum of four assembly lines. This development will represent a significant milestone as it marks the central government's first approval of an OSAT unit, also known as an assembly testing marking and packaging (ATMP) unit.
• According to Bloomberg's sources, Micron Technology is currently eng