India set to leverage Semicon boom, poised to be key chip maker

India is home to a fifth of the world’s chip design engineers and it is currently buzzing with expectations that it would establish itself as a dominant player for chip making, sooner than later.

- RITWIK MUKHERJEE

Interestingly, India’s semiconductor market is projected to more than double to $100 billion by 2030, up from $52 billion in 2025 (Meity’s forecast), and from the record global participation at Semicon India 2025, it is evident that global attention is firmly on the country.

Call it an initiative that is designed to accelerate the journey from design to manufacturing for India’s fabless semiconductor startups or something else! India Foundry Connect Programme started one year ago, has been continuously providing startups with access to GF’s advanced Product Design Kits (PDKs), GlobalShuttle Multi Project Wafer (MPW) fabrication, IP libraries, and engineering expertise. Global Foundries (GF) is a leading manufacturer of essential semiconductors the world relies on to live, work and connect, with its global manufacturing footprint spanning the US, Europe, and Asia. This programme aligns closely with India’s Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme, enabling eligible companies to fast-track their silicon innovations toward commercial manufacturing.