CSIR–National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR) organised a day-long workshop titled “Strengthening India’s Semiconductor Ecosystem: Policies, Challenges, and Opportunities” at Vivekananda Hall, Pusa Campus, New Delhi, on February 27, 2026.

The workshop brought together experts from government, academia, R&D institutions and industry to deliberate on strategic pathways to enhance India’s semiconductor capabilities. The event complemented CSIR-NIScPR’s recent study on the comparative analysis of global semiconductor policies and India’s ecosystem, aiming to assess the current landscape, identify key challenges, explore collaboration opportunities, draw global policy lessons and frame actionable recommendations.

Representatives from institutions and organisations including India Semiconductor Mission (MeitY), NITI Aayog, BITS Pilani, IIT Delhi, IIT Jodhpur, CSIR laboratories, DRDO’s Solid State Physics Laboratory, Intel India, Lam Research, Applied Materials, Sahasra Semiconductor and others participated in the discussions. The proceedings were also streamed live on YouTube to enable wider stakeholder engagement.

In her inaugural address, Dr. Geetha Vani Rayasam, Director, CSIR-NIScPR, underscored the institute’s role in science communication and policy research, highlighting the importance of collaborative dialogue in advancing India’s semiconductor ambitions.

Dr. Vipan Kumar, Chief Scientist, CSIR-NIScPR, pointed to India’s semiconductor paradox—strong global design leadership coupled with heavy import dependence—and stressed the need for evidence-based policy reforms, innovation under ISM 2.0 and a strategic push towards self-reliance by 2030.

Delivering the Chief Guest address, Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Group Vice Chancellor, BITS Pilani, emphasised indigenous technology development, mission-mode programmes and deep-tech startups as key pillars for long-term competitiveness. He advocated expanding centres of excellence, R&D hubs and prototyping facilities to help innovations move from early-stage research to commercial viability.

The technical discussions were organised into three thematic sessions:

R&D, Design and Manufacturing Ecosystem: Participants called for stronger academia–industry linkages, pilot fabrication facilities, indigenous materials and equipment development, and a focus on AI, photonics and sustainable electronics.

Skill Workforce and Talent Development: The session highlighted the importance of structured skilling programmes, CMOS-focused academic curricula and industry partnerships to create a balanced design–manufacturing growth model.

Policy, Governance and Institutional Framework: Experts examined global policy models and emphasised unified governance, semiconductor diplomacy, supply-chain resilience, rare-earth access and strategic autonomy. The idea of a national semiconductor research centre was also discussed.

The workshop concluded with a panel discussion titled “Strategic Pathways: A Roadmap for India’s Semiconductor Future.” Experts noted that while the India Semiconductor Mission has created strong momentum, the next phase requires focused execution, innovation and scaling. They identified opportunities in analog systems, sensors, application-specific products, quantum-integrated systems and emerging chip architectures.

The deliberations collectively stressed the need for coordinated efforts across R&D, manufacturing, policy and skill development to strengthen India’s position in the global semiconductor value chain. The discussions also reaffirmed CSIR-NIScPR’s role in providing evidence-based policy insights and fostering multi-stakeholder engagement in strategic science and technology domains.