‘Semiconductors fundamental’: Tata chief backs chip push as Assam plant takes shape

‘Semiconductors fundamental’: Tata chief backs chip push as Assam plant takes shape New Delhi, Oct 13: India is well positioned to emerge as a key player in the global semiconductor supply chain, backed by its talent pool, large domestic market and potential international partnerships, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran said on Tuesday.Speaking at an annual forum in New Delhi, Chandrasekaran said semiconductors would be fundamental to India’s future, with the Tata Group investing in manufacturing capabilities to meet domestic demand and strengthen the country’s position in the global electronics ecosystem. We are in a beautiful spot in India, because we have the talent, we have the domestic market, we can play a part in every global supply chain,” he said. Chandrasekaran said partnerships with global players would be essential to developing India’s semiconductor ecosystem and accessing the technologies required for manufacturing. He also highlighted energy availability as a critical factor in determining the sector’s growth. “We need partnerships, because we have all the technologies... But if you design it, definitely we will get there. But you also have to be careful, because you need to keep an eye on energy,” he said. The Tata Group is developing a semiconductor assembly and test facility in Assam with an investment of around Rs 27,000 crore, a major part of its push to build domestic chip-manufacturing capabilities. The project is expected to help meet the growing demand for semiconductors across industries and strengthen India’s integration into the global electronics manufacturing ecosystem.Earlier On October 12, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the semiconductor plant at Jagiroad is ready, with pilot chip production having begun.“The first clean room at Tata Electronics’ Rs 27,000-crore semiconductor assembly and test facility at Jagiroad is ready, and pilot chip production has begun. When the facility is formally inaugurated in the coming weeks, it will mark the Northeast’s arrival in the global semiconductor supply chain,” he wrote on Substack…