PM Modi to inaugurate Semicon India 2026: A look at India’s renewed semiconductor focus

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will open the fifth Semicon India 2026 event on September 17, as the country aims to draw in international chip manufacturing firms and expertise, and highlight its emerging semiconductor industry. The three-day gathering, running from September 17 to 19, will focus on "Silicon to Systems: Building the Ecosystem" and will feature global and Indian corporations, policymakers, investors, researchers, startups, and academia from the semiconductor and electronics supply chain.

The conference will emphasize fostering collaboration, investment, innovation, and talent growth in India, with sessions covering display industry advancements, six Country Roundtables for cooperation and joint ventures, a forum for women's leadership, and other topics. On September 16, Modi convened a roundtable with leaders from key chip companies like Micron Technology, ASML, Infineon Technologies, Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron AMD, Intel, and Tata Electronics.

The event follows the recent unveiling of the second phase of the Semiconductor Mission, allocating Rs 1.27 lakh crore to bolster domestic chip design and expand the supply chain of auxiliary sectors, including equipment manufacturers and producers of specialty gases and chemicals. The first phase of the mission successfully lured 12 chip manufacturing and assembly projects, including a Tata Group fabrication facility.

The scheme's primary objective is to create more Indian-owned intellectual property and fabless semiconductor companies, which design and sell chips while outsourcing fabrication work. The government will target semiconductor technologies crucial for national security and essential infrastructure, offering support for IP, chips, systems-on-chip (SoCs), and modules. Indian companies, including Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs), will be eligible for assistance, provided they maintain significant operations in India.