Global chipmakers converge on India to tap talent, policy support

Leading semiconductor equipment manufacturers are ramping up their India operations, signalling growing confidence in the nation's emergence as a key hub for chip production and innovation. The momentum was evident at Semicon India 2026, where global industry players showcased plans to deepen collaboration with local partners and build a robust ecosystem around semiconductor manufacturing.

Lithographic equipment giant ASML, which traditionally establishes offices only in established semiconductor-producing nations, has opened a facility in India. The Dutch company's move underscores shifting industry dynamics as its major customers prepare to set up or expand operations in the country.

"We are very confident in what we see here now with the policies coming from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his team for the ecosystem and the great talent that we see in India," said Allan Wayne, ASML's Chief Strategic Sourcing and Procurement Officer. He highlighted Tata Electronics as India's first 300-millimetre semiconductor fabrication plant, capable of producing 50,000 wafers monthly. "If we're going to be scaling this up, we need to be able to build many fabs here," Wayne added.

Industry observers attribute the chipmakers' interest to a combination of factors: India's supportive government policies, a substantial engineering talent pool, and growing geopolitical imperatives to diversify semiconductor manufacturing away from traditional Asian hubs. The convergence of these elements has positioned India as an increasingly attractive destination for major semiconductor investments.