New Delhi, Feb 20 (UNI) Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw outlined the national vision for building a globally competitive semiconductor ecosystem and strengthening India’s long-term position in the AI value chain.
He said this at a session titled “Semiconductor Workforce in the Age of AI” at the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
The session saw panelists place talent development at the centre of India’s artificial intelligence ambitions and semiconductor manufacturing roadmap, emphasising that the next phase of growth will depend on deep, end-to-end understanding of the fabrication ecosystem.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Vaishnaw said students across the country, from Assam to Jammu and Kashmir and from Kerala to Tamil Nadu, are now actively designing chips. In the AI-driven era, he noted, semiconductors will form one of the most critical layers of technology architecture and will emerge as a major national strength in the years ahead.
Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, S. Krishnan, highlighted the strategic convergence of the India AI Mission and the India Semiconductor Mission, stressing the need to transition from design leadership to manufacturing scale.
He said semiconductors are central to the AI ecosystem, just as AI is increasingly integral to semiconductor innovation.
Noting that India currently contributes nearly 20 per cent of the world’s semiconductor design workforce, he emphasised the importance of expanding into advanced manufacturing to become a reliable, long-term global partner.
Krishnan stated that 10 major semiconductor plants have been committed across the country, with at least four expected to commence production in 2026.
He added that India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 will aim to cover the entire ecosystem, including domestic manufacturing of semiconductor equipment.
The panel discussion that followed framed workforce development as an ecosystem challenge rather than a narrow skilling exercise.
Speakers underlined that in a sector defined by precision and long learning cycles, isolated skill acquisition is inadequate. Instead, the industry requires engineers and technicians who understand both the operation of tools and the scientific principles governing fabrication processes.
The session featured David Fried, Corporate Vice President, Lam Research; Paul Triolo, Partner, DGA Group; and Saurabh Chandorkar, Associate Professor at the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science.
Participants agreed that human capital will determine the pace and credibility of India’s semiconductor expansion.
Industry leaders observed that while established global semiconductor hubs took five to seven decades to build capabilities, India is seeking to compress that journey into a significantly shorter timeframe.
Such acceleration, they said, will require close integration between academia, equipment manufacturers and fabrication facilities, with curricula and hands-on training aligned to real production environments.
The IISc “SemiFirst” collaboration was cited as a working model. By combining simulation-led learning with exposure to real fabrication subsystems, including pressure gauge systems and P&ID development, the programme aims to prepare students for the operational complexity of modern semiconductor manufacturing.
Participants noted that alignment between academia and industry has reached an inflection point, with talent development now viewed as an immediate national and business priority.
The success of upcoming fabrication plants and India’s broader technology ambitions, they said, will depend on the creation of a robust, industry-ready workforce.
The discussion concluded that in the AI era, semiconductor capability is defined not only by infrastructure but by the depth of expertise that operates it, positioning workforce development as central to India’s emergence as a trusted global manufacturing and technology partner.
