Drawing an analogy between the semiconductor industry's development and the construction of a building, the IT Minister highlighted that India's semiconductor strategy is being meticulously built step by step, leveraging top talent and fostering a favorable ecosystem.
Vaishnaw emphasized that semiconductor endeavors should not solely focus on creating fabrication facilities, cautioning against the mistakes made by other countries that hastily established fabrication units without an accompanying supportive ecosystem. During a press interaction at the launch of the Sanchar Saathi portal, which allows users to track and block lost mobile devices, Vaishnaw highlighted numerous examples where countries encountered failure due to the absence of an enabling ecosystem.
Given the intricate nature of semiconductor manufacturing, Vaishnaw stressed the need for a patient, measured, and cautious approach by India. Comparing the industry's establishment to the construction of a building, he stressed the importance of gradually assembling the necessary talent and cultivating an environment that attracts machinery and equipment manufacturers, as well as suppliers of essential gases.
Ensuring sustainable semiconductor manufacturing is of equal importance, according to Vaishnaw.
"When discussing Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions, inquiries often arise regarding the energy utilized in manufacturing," Vaishnaw noted. "We possess a significant advantage as we have allocated 20,000 MW (20 GW) of energy specifically for semiconductor manufacturing."
The utilization of green energy in semiconductor production has garnered global attention, with Vaishnaw stating, "I can confidently say that India will emerge as a major semiconductor destination over the next 5-10 years."
Vaishnaw expressed satisfaction with the response from all stakeholders to the government's semiconductor policy announced on January 1, 2022. In the past 17 months, 106 Indian universities have commenced offering semiconductor courses, and the country has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Purdue University in the United States. Many more educational institutions have also expressed interest in participating in the program.
He emphasized that merely investing a certain amount of money does not guarantee successful fabrication manufacturing. In India's case, the differentiation lies in the talent base and the ongoing efforts to enhance it, positioning the country as having the highest potential to create the next major semiconductor industry hub.
During his recent visit to the United States to meet with semiconductor players, Vaishnaw engaged with representatives from 45 companies and two universities within a three-day period. The visit provided comprehensive feedback on mistakes made by other nations, with one senior company representative endorsing India's practical approach and urging the Prime Minister to continue with it.
Highlighting the program's significance, Vaishnaw mentioned that India's Consul General in San Francisco has been actively engaging with semiconductor companies in California at the diplomatic level.
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