India Inaugurates Semicon India 2025 to Become a Global Semiconductor Powerhouse

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Semicon India 2025, a landmark conference aimed at catalysing India's semiconductor ecosystem. The three-day event brought together over 20,000 participants from across the country, including CEOs of leading global chipmakers, policymakers, innovators, and students. PM Modi emphasized India's rapid economic growth, with a 7.8% GDP increase in the April-June quarter, and highlighted the country's potential to emerge as the world's third-largest economy. He drew a parallel between past and future energy sources, comparing oil to "black gold" and semiconductors to "digital diamonds."

Key Takeaways:

• The global semiconductor market is expected to cross $1 trillion in the coming years, with India aiming to claim a significant share.
• The Semicon India programme, launched in 2021, has attracted over $18 billion in investments across ten semiconductor projects.
• Approvals for multiple fabs and chip plants have been cleared, with companies such as CG Power, Kaynes, Micron, and Tata operationalizing pilot projects.
• India is building a full-stack semiconductor ecosystem, encompassing design, manufacturing, packaging, and research.
• The Design Linked Incentive Scheme is being restructured to boost start-ups and MSMEs, while the National Research Fund will support the creation of Indian intellectual property in the sector.
• States have been urged to engage in healthy competition to build semiconductor hubs and strengthen infrastructure.
• The government has streamlined approvals through the National Single Window System, and new semiconductor parks offer plug-and-play infrastructure with incentives such as PLI and design grants.
• India accounts for 20% of the world's semiconductor design talent, and start-ups have been urged to leverage government schemes like the Chips-to-Startup programme.
• PM Modi emphasized the need for precision execution and delivery at scale, stating that the day is not far when the world will say "Designed in India, Made in India, Trusted by the World."

Statistics:

• The global semiconductor market is valued at $600 billion and expected to cross $1 trillion in the coming years.
• India's GDP growth rate has reached 7.8% in the April-June quarter.
• Over $18 billion in investments have been attracted through the Semicon India programme since its launch in 2021.
• 5 semiconductor units are currently under construction in India.
• 1 pilot line is already completed, and more will soon begin production.

Sources:

• Government of India (4)
• Government of India