Semicon 2.0: India’s Chip Mission Isn’t Just About Manufacturing — It’s a Launchpad for Engineers and SMEs

• Chinmay
• May 20, 2025
• Electronics, Internet of Things, Semiconductor Industry
• ATMP services India, Electronics manufacturing India, embedded systems India, India semiconductor mission, Indian IoT startups, Indian SMEs chip supply, MeitY chip projects, Semicon 2.0 engineers, semiconductor jobs India, skill development in semiconductor sector, VLSI careers India
• 0 Comments

The global semiconductor race is heating up — and India just entered the game with real skin in it.

Under Semicon 2.0, the Indian government is chasing a bold target: 5% of global chip production capacity by 2030.

Backed by $10 billion in incentives, this phase marks a turning point — not just for large-scale fabs and global players, but for India’s small and medium manufacturers (SMEs) and its engineers-in-waiting.

This isn’t a policy on paper.

Five projects have already been cleared with a combined capacity of over 75 million chips per day, and another 16 million/day worth of projects approved by states.

Why This Is a Big Deal for Indian Engineers and SMEs

Let’s break it down:

For SMEs:

• Localization of chip production means easier, cheaper, and faster access to custom chips.
• No more delays from global supply chains or sky-high import bills.
• SMEs in electronics, IoT, EVs, automation, and industrial machinery can now experiment, prototype, and scale faster.
• A whole new wave of ATMP (Assembly, Testing, Marking, and Packaging) services will be needed — opening doors for specialist suppliers, test labs, packaging experts, and machine builders.

For Engineers and Young Talent:

• India’s new chip fabs and design houses will need thousands of skilled professionals — not just in VLSI or electronics, but across domains:
  1. Embedded systems
  2. Semiconductor packaging and test engineering
  3. IoT firmware and board-level hardware design
  4. EDA tools, chip validation, and cleanroom automation
• This is not just about working in fabs. It’s about creating:
  1. Design-to-silicon startups
  2. Smart manufacturing tools
  3. Custom chips for Indian devices

What Should Engineers Do Now?

1. Start Upskilling:
   Dive into semiconductor fundamentals, PCB design, embedded C, Verilog, or system-on-chip design. Even software engineers can find niches in automation and test scripting.
2. Follow the Ecosystem:
   Keep tabs on companies getting MeitY approval. Apply. Intern. Learn what they need.
3. Think Beyond Jobs:
   If you’re a maker, builder, or tinker — this is your golden window. Launch something. Build for Indian hardware. Collaborate with local manufacturers.
4. Align with Make-in-India:
   Whether you’re into AI, IoT, or robotics — chip availability will become a superpower. Build smarter, cheaper, faster.

India’s Chip Dream is Our Engineering Reality

This is not just about catching up with Taiwan or Korea. It’s about giving Indian minds a chance to innovate with Indian-made silicon. It’s about building self-reliant electronics systems, made for India — by India.

Let’s not just watch Semicon 2.0 unfold. Let’s build careers, businesses, and breakthroughs on top of it.