RT team
India is on the brink of a major advancement in its technology sector, as it prepares to produce semiconductor manufacturing equipment, according to IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Speaking at the launch of Applied Materials’ India Validation Centre in Bengaluru—a $20 million project—Vaishnaw revealed plans to localize the entire semiconductor production ecosystem, including fabs, assembly, testing, marking, and packaging (ATMP) units, as well as necessary chemicals, gases, substrates, consumables, and equipment.
This initiative aligns with Applied Materials’ announcement last year of establishing a $400 million engineering center in Bengaluru to innovate and commercialize semiconductor manufacturing technologies. Vaishnaw highlighted that components previously imported are now being produced domestically, marking significant progress in achieving self-reliance in semiconductor manufacturing.
The inauguration of the India Validation Centre, one of the few globally alongside those in the US, Singapore, China, and Korea, aims to bolster India’s capacity with a 500-strong workforce. This move is part of several agreements reached during the Prime Minister’s visit to the US, including the commencement of Micron’s ATMP construction and LAM Research’s Semiverse Solutions initiative to train Indian semiconductor engineers.
Additionally, the establishment of an AMD design center in Bengaluru has been completed, marking another milestone in India’s tech advancement. The new facility by Applied Materials, notable for being India’s first private 300 mm wafer processing center, represents a leap from the 200 mm wafer processing capabilities previously available, primarily for academic purposes.
This venture underscores the rapid evolution required in semiconductor equipment and components to meet the industry’s changing demands. However, challenges remain in developing a comprehensive support ecosystem for sustainable semiconductor fabrication in India, necessitating collaboration across various sectors and international expertise to realize these ambitious projects.
