SEMI and SEMICON India 2024: Shaping future of semiconductor innovation

The semiconductor industry is a cornerstone of modern technology, powering everything from smartphones to artificial intelligence. At the forefront of this critical sector is SEMI, the global industry association representing the semiconductor and electronics manufacturing supply chain. With a mission to foster innovation, advance global collaboration, and drive sustainable growth, SEMI plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of technology. 

With the global semiconductor industry seeking to strengthen and diversify its supply chain with new hubs, SEMI's inaugural SEMICON India event in September 2024 marked a significant milestone for expanding the semiconductor ecosystem in India.

Who is SEMI?
For the past 54 years, SEMI has provided a networking and collaboration platform for members across the global semiconductor manufacturing and design supply chain, including materials and equipment suppliers, device manufacturers, foundries, hyperscalers and research institutions. With over 3,300 member companies spanning more than 90 countries, SEMI is committed to promoting the growth and success of the global semiconductor industry. 

The organization helps members grow and address industry challenges through a variety of services and initiatives, including workforce development, sustainability/EHS and supply chain initiatives, advocacy on public policy, market research, international standards development, and educational programs. Through these efforts, SEMI enables members to navigate the rapidly evolving technological and geopolitical challenges that no country, company or CEO can tackle alone. “Collaborate” is SEMI’s middle name. 

Importance of India in global semiconductor landscape
India has emerged as a key player in the global semiconductor ecosystem, driven by factors such as a burgeoning tech industry, a skilled workforce, and government initiatives aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing. 

Recognizing the strategic importance of this market and the opportunities it creates for the association’s global membership, SEMI President and CEO, Ajit Manocha, believed the time is right to bring the flagship SEMICON exposition and conference to India for the first time. 

In close collaboration with the government’s India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) and local organizations such as ELCINA, IESA and ICEA, the event underscored India's potential to become a major hub for semiconductor design and manufacturing, catering not only to domestic demand but also to the growing global market.

The Indian government has introduced various initiatives to foster semiconductor manufacturing in the country, such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which aims to attract investments and incentivize local production. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to reduce dependency on imports and establish a self-sustaining semiconductor ecosystem. 

As India positions itself as a global leader in semiconductor technology, SEMICON India will serve as a platform for showcasing the country’s capabilities and innovations while connecting local companies with the SEMI’s global network.

SEMICON India 2024: Event recap
SEMI hosted SEMICON India 2024 from September 11-13, 2024, at IEML in Greater Noida, bringing together global industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders. SEMI was greatly honored that the Hon’ble Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, inaugurated the event, drawing more than 2,000 select industry executives and government representatives to the inauguration ceremony to mark this important occasion. 

SEMICON India 2024 featured a comprehensive suite of technical sessions, keynotes, panels and fireside chats, along with a buzzing workforce development pavilion, student mentoring sessions and educational programs. 

Preceding SEMICON India, SEMI organized the first-ever global Semiconductor Executive Summit (SES) hosted by the Ministry of Electronics & IT. The Summit brought together more than 100 CEOs and CxOs from leading semiconductor companies, high-ranking government officials from the central and state governments, as well as academia and other stakeholders. Attendees participated in a comprehensive dialogue about positioning India as a trusted partner in the global semiconductor supply chain. 

In particular, these events highlighted activities in the following key areas:

Innovation and technology trends: With the semiconductor industry continually evolving, SEMICON India speakers, exhibitors and attendees explored the latest advancements in technology, including AI, machine learning, and quantum computing. Industry experts shared insights on how these technologies are reshaping the semiconductor landscape.

Sustainability initiatives: As the industry faces increasing pressure to address environmental concerns such as energy consumption and hazardous materials use, SEMICON India highlighted sustainable practices and technologies that minimize the ecological footprint of semiconductor manufacturing. Topics such as energy-efficient processes, recycling, and waste management were key focus areas.

Supply chain resilience: The Covid-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains, emphasizing the need for greater resilience. This SEMICON India session addressed strategies to enhance supply chain robustness, including diversification, localization, and collaboration among stakeholders.

Workforce development: The semiconductor industry is facing a massive long-term talent shortage, making workforce development a critical issue. The dedicated Workforce Development Pavilion hosted vibrant discussions on educational initiatives and needs, training programs, and partnerships aimed at nurturing the next generation of semiconductor professionals.

Policy and regulation: SEMICON India was host to six states – host state Uttar Pradesh, along with Gujarat, Assam, Karnataka, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu – who all shared their policies and regulations to attract investment and support industry growth. 

Networking and collaboration opportunities
The key benefit of attending SEMICON India and other SEMI events around the world is the opportunity for networking and collaboration. The events facilitate connections between industry leaders along the entire semiconductor manufacturing and design value chain, as well as researchers and policymakers, fostering partnerships that can drive innovation and growth. 

But, these opportunities far exceed a three-day exhibition. While India is poised for sustained progress, there is broad recognition that “this is not a sprint but a marathon” for India’s semiconductor ecosystem expansion. SEMI is uniquely positioned to put the heft of its global membership and breadth of industry-building initiatives to work to support India in areas such as ecosystem creation, workforce development, supply chain resiliency and sustainability. 

Accelerating this year-round industry support platform is IESA, the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association, which is joining hands with SEMI to implement critical SEMI initiatives locally. Together with partner organizations ELCINA and ICEA, SEMI will help unify, streamline and grow local programs while connecting the emerging local ecosystem with potential partners, customers and investors around the globe.  

Conclusion
As the semiconductor industry stands at the crossroads of technological advancement and global economic change, the inaugural SEMICON India represented a significant opportunity to bring SEMI’s global semiconductor community to India to connect with local stakeholders. 

By highlighting India's growing influence in the global semiconductor landscape, SEMICON India 2024 served as a catalyst for global collaboration, and the beginning for SEMI to become a strong partner to India. As we look toward the future, events like SEMICON India are crucial for ensuring the semiconductor industry continues to thrive, driving advancements that will benefit economies and societies worldwide.

-- Bettina Weiss, Chief of Staff and Corporate Strategy, SEMI.