SEMICON India 2026: Industry and Academia Deepen Chip Ecosystem Ties
At SEMICON India 2026, global firms looked to enter the Indian market while academia pushed indigenous chip work and industry-linked training.
India's semiconductor ambitions drew both global suppliers and academic institutions to SEMICON India 2026, where participants focused on supply-chain growth, industry-academia collaboration, indigenous chip design and workforce readiness.
Among the academic efforts, Gayatri Vidya Parishad College of Engineering said it is working towards fabricating silicon chips at its Bharat Silicon Labs and is also developing a microcontroller. Professor Dr Manmadha Rao described the move as a first for academia in chip development, adding that the event offered a chance to engage with innovators across industry and society.
Global firms used the platform to signal their interest in India's expanding market. Japan's Inabata & Co., which makes local scrubbers used to abate toxic greenhouse gases and explosive gases in semiconductor production, is entering India for the first time. Koichi Yamamura said the company has high expectations of finding customers and making the most of the opportunity.
From Singapore, IAQ Technology International's Hing Kee Neoh stressed the need to strengthen the semiconductor supply chain alongside skilled manpower. He said India must transform rapidly to catch up with the rest of the world and that expectations around that goal are high.
On the skilling front, J Bhaskar Rao of Gayatri Vidya Parishad College of Engineering pointed to the gap between academic training and industry needs. He said students often lack chances to work on projects aligned with industry requirements, prompting the college to set up a laboratory where students join industry projects for practical experience. The institution hopes to bring industry professionals into the lab, showcase student skills and create interactions that improve placements.