SEMICON India 2024 opens, signaling India's rise as semiconductor hub

SEMICON India 2024, the region’s premier semiconductor event, commenced today with a grand inauguration presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the India Exposition Mart Ltd (IEML) in Greater Noida. 

Organized by SEMI in partnership with Messe München India, MeitY, India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), and Digital India, the event underscores India’s emergence as a global semiconductor powerhouse. SEMICON India 2024 brings leading global semiconductor industry companies to exhibit and present on addressing key challenges such as talent shortages, supply chain redesign, and sustainability concerns.

As part of its ongoing efforts to accelerate India's semiconductor growth, SEMI has officially launched its Workforce Development Program in India with a recent workshop on Semiconductor Manufacturing, held in partnership with ESSCI at IIT Delhi. 

The program emphasizes collaboration with educational institutions to create specialized curricula for semiconductor design roles and co-develop skill development initiatives. Addressing the global talent gap in the semiconductor industry, the launch aims to equip India’s robust engineering pipeline with the necessary skills to be job-ready for the fast-growing sector.

SEMICON India features additional SEMI programs to advance industry growth, such as Sustainability and Smart Manufacturing, supporting the favorable regulatory policies by the ISM and the Government of India and facilitating global investments to strengthen India's position in the industry. 

Representatives from Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Assam, Karnataka, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu will showcase their vision and policies designed to attract significant investments and drive growth, further highlighting India's collective ambition to become a key player in the global semiconductor landscape.

In his address, PM Modi emphasized the semiconductor industry’s critical role in India’s technological advancement and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the sector.

Echoing this sentiment, Ajit Manocha, SEMI President and CEO, said: “India is on the path to becoming the next semiconductor powerhouse in Asia, and the stars are now aligned to create an ecosystem that enables growth for India and the world. 

"With AI fueling global semiconductor demand, around 150 new fabs will be required to meet the industry’s ambitious $1 trillion target by 2030. India will need to achieve exponential growth to maximize its share, and SEMICON India will help to catalyze this market, augmenting ISM’s roadmap and favorable policies.”

“India is projected to face a workforce shortage of 250,000 to 300,000 professionals by 2027; upskilling India's raw talent to meet this demand is crucial, and global players have a vital role in this effort,” Manocha said. “In partnership with leading Indian institutions, SEMI aims to address this talent gap by equipping the future workforce with the necessary skills and expertise to thrive in the evolving semiconductor landscape."

 “India Semiconductor Mission, Ministry of Electronics & IT, and Government of India are committed to a diversified and resilient semiconductor supply chain,” said ISM CEO, Akash Tripathi. “In the last 32 months, ISM has placed India in the semiconductor manufacturing map of the world, with four semiconductor manufacturing facilities coming up with a total investment of over $17 billion. With a very strong talent pipeline and strong resolve of GoI to support the development of the semiconductor industry in India, I am sure we will be successful in becoming a trusted partner in the global value chain of semiconductors in the coming years.”

SEMICON India 2024, co-located with electronica India and productronica India, features over 250 exhibitors, of which over 140 are international exhibitors, including global leaders such as SEMI, NXP, Foxconn, PSMC, Renesas, Tata Electronics, CG Power, Applied Materials, and Cadence. Attendees will explore innovations in smart manufacturing, supply chain management, sustainability, and workforce development during the three-day event.