Semiconductor industry warms up to opportunities under ‘Make in India’ programme

Bengaluru: The Indian Electronics and Semiconductor industry body as well as experts on Monday emphasized on the increasing need of indigenizing critical components including core processors and electronics to help the ‘Make in India’ vision a reality.

After assuming charge, Prime Minister NarendraModi has been pushing his flagship ‘Make in India’ programme which aims at putting India prominently on the global manufacturing map and creating local jobs.

Delivering key note address at the 10th edition of the vision Summit organized by industry body Indian Electronics and Semiconductors Association (IESA) in Bengaluru, former ISRO chairman Dr Radhakrishnan said that the industry has a greater role to play in the coming days in carrying forward the success and legacy of the Indian space programme by indigenizing electronics and semiconductors.

“ISRO significantly indigenized satellite missions, including the launch vehicles, satellites and the networks. Today, we have set an example of low cost space missions with a very high degree of success. However, in the electronics and semiconductors, India needs to indigenize on a higher scale. The onus is on the Indian Electronics and Semiconductor Industry to fulfil this gap,” he pointed out.

He said most of the important components in ISRO-made launch vehicles or satellites are electronics which are mostly being imported at the moment. “In PSLV, the important component is 10 per cent while in the GSLV, it is 20 per cent and in satellites, it is as high as 35 per cent. There is a lot of scope for the Indian Electronics and Semiconductor Industry to contribute to the space programme in the long run,” he added.

Ashok Chandak, Chairman, IESA said that self-reliance in electronics is critically important for the development of any nation and should also be regard as a strategic value. “It is also heartening to note that Electronics Development Fund (EDF) was approved recently. The approval for fabs and fabless units will create a $10 billion dollar industry potential.”

As a part of the ‘Digital India’ programme, the government has recently proposed to set up an Electronic Development Fund (EDF). The proposed fund aims at creating 28 million new jobs apart from reducing imports of electronics.

Meanwhile, Software Technology Park of India (STPI) said it is launching new labs in Karnataka and Odisha which would be primarily used for testing of chips. The labs will be set up in collaboration with the respective state governments.

“We are also preparing to set up an electronic system incubator in association with the Delhi University and IESA in New Delhi. This incubator will support entrepreneurs from making products till marketing them. We plan a similar incubation centre in Odissa,” said Omkar Rai, Director General, STPI, Govt. of India.