MakeInSilicon: International Symposium On Enabling Indigenous Semiconductor Infrastructure

The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) is an independent institution under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India. It serves as the nodal agency for the Semicon India Programme, with the core objective of establishing India as a trusted global hub for semiconductor and electronics manufacturing, ensuring economic security and technological self-reliance. Why Semiconductors Matter for India Semiconductors are the backbone of the modern digital economy, powering smartphones, data centers, 5G networks, electric vehicles, defence equipment, and space systems. Without a reliable semiconductor supply, the vision of Digital India, Industry 4.0, and Atmanirbhar Bharat cannot be realized. Recent global disruptions further highlighted this dependence. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant vulnerabilities in global semiconductor supply chains, with shortages impacting more than 169 industries worldwide. This emphasized the urgent need for India to strengthen its domestic semiconductor ecosystem and reduce dependence on a limited number of global suppliers. Key Focus Areas of ISM The mission focuses on four major areas to establish a comprehensive semiconductor ecosystem: 1. Semiconductor Fabs - Setting up fabrication plants for Silicon CMOS technologies in India. 2. Display Fabs - Establishing display fabrication units to support India's rapidly growing electronics sector. 3. ATMP/OSAT Facilities - Developing Assembly, Testing, Marking, and Packaging infrastructure across the country. 4. Design Linked Incentive (DLI) - Encouraging chip design through financial incentives, design infrastructure, and support for startups and MSMEs. Major Projects Approved Several landmark projects have been approved under the Semicon India Programme: • Tata Electronics Semiconductor Fab - A 28 nm semiconductor fabrication facility at Dholera, Gujarat, in partnership with Taiwan's Powerchip, with an investment of approximately ₹91,000 crore and a planned production capacity of 50,000 wafers per month. • Tata Electronics ATMP Facility - A state-of-the-art Assembly, Testing, Marking, and Packaging facility in Assam with an investment of ₹27,000 crore, capable of assembling and testing up to 48 million chips per day for automotive, electric vehicle, and consumer electronics applications. • CG Power-Renesas ATMP Unit - A specialized semiconductor packaging facility in Sanand, Gujarat, established by CG Power in collaboration with Renesas (Japan), with an investment of ₹7,600 crore, focusing on automotive, industrial, and consumer semiconductor products. Future Outlook Although challenges such as high capital investment, a developing materials ecosystem, and technological complexities remain, the India Semiconductor Mission represents a transformative step toward achieving technological self-reliance. It creates significant opportunities for engineers, researchers, startups, and industry professionals in semiconductor design, manufacturing, advanced packaging, process engineering, materials research, and innovation, positioning India as an emerging leader in the global semiconductor value chain.