Semicon India 2026 was held at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi from September 17 to 19, showcasing India’s growing semiconductor prowess. The event brought together various segments of the semiconductor value chain—ranging from chip design, advanced packaging, materials, and equipment to artificial intelligence and high-performance computing—onto a single platform.
Participation by Over 600 Exhibiting Companies
The fifth edition of Semicon India focused on the theme “Silicon to System: Building the Ecosystem.” The event saw participation from global semiconductor industry leaders, policymakers, investors, academicians, and innovators. More than 600 exhibiting companies from various countries took part. Additionally, activities related to workforce development, training programs, and hackathons were organized.
India’s Semiconductor Journey Moves Beyond Chip Design
The exhibition showcased India’s semiconductor journey, highlighting advancements beyond chip design to include production, manufacturing, research, materials, talent development, and system-level applications. It illustrated the diverse capabilities emerging in the country and the growing synergy among them.
Indigenous Architecture and High-Performance Computing
C-DAC showcased its initiatives in the high-performance computing (HPC) sector, including the AUM HPC series and Rudra-AUM systems. These efforts emphasize the development of indigenous technologies at both the chip and system levels.
Solutions for Chip Applications
The exhibition also displayed solutions developed by Indian companies for smart devices, industrial automation, energy management, and the automotive sector. VerveSemi Microelectronics presented semiconductor solutions for applications such as motor control, energy meters, and data acquisition. These included chip solutions designed for consumer electronics, electric mobility, and IoT applications. Boosting Indigenous RISC-V Chip Design
C-DAC’s indigenous 64-bit RISC-V architecture stands as a prime example of India’s prowess in semiconductor architecture design. Based on the open RISC-V standard, it is designed to cater to high-performance computing and emerging digital applications. Graam Semiconductors has showcased its work involving indigenous RISC-V architecture and chip design automation tools. The company’s platforms are developed for various applications, including embedded systems and edge computing. According to the company, it has achieved silicon validation for several designs across a portfolio ranging from 180nm to 16nm nodes.
Showcasing Indigenous Broadband Technology
Ahisah Technologies showcased an indigenous broadband solution capable of speeds up to 1 Gbps. According to the company, this technology enables internet service providers to connect approximately 64 households to the internet via a single Optical Line Terminal (OLT). The solution is based on the ‘Vihan’ platform developed in India and is powered by C-DAC’s 64-bit RISC-V architecture, demonstrating the use of indigenous technology in high-speed broadband.
AI-Enabled Chips and Smart Sensors
The growing synergy between semiconductors and Artificial Intelligence (AI) was also a highlight of the exhibition. Indian semiconductor firm NetraSemi showcased AI-enabled System-on-Chip (SoC) solutions for applications such as smart surveillance, smart sensors, robotics, and mobility. The company has tested an indigenously designed 12nm chip, which incorporates AI accelerators, vision processors, and video engines. Such technologies are useful for scientists and researchers working in the field.
Focus on the Entire Value Chain Beyond Just Chips
Semicon India 2026 showcases not just chips, but the entire ecosystem associated with semiconductor manufacturing. It encompasses the full value chain, ranging from materials and equipment to testing, packaging, and system integration. This initiative aligns with the Semicon 2.0 program, approved by the Central Government in July 2026 with an outlay of ₹1,27,500 crore. The program rests on six key pillars: design, assembly and materials, advanced manufacturing facilities, R&D, and talent development.
Significant Participation
A glimpse of India’s emerging semiconductor design landscape was evident. Under the government’s Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme, support is being provided to domestic chip design companies in sectors such as video surveillance, IoT, energy meters, microprocessors, satellite communication, and broadband technologies. The Chip-to-Startup (C2S) program focuses on fostering semiconductor design capabilities among students and academia. Its objective is to create a pool of skilled chip designers and strengthen the electronics system design ecosystem.
Over One Lakh Engineers Engaged with the Program
More than 500 entities—comprising over 400 academic institutions and over 100 startups—are involved in the C2S program and DLI scheme, engaging over one lakh engineers through the ChipIN Centre are associated with it. They have been provided with advanced chip design tools, design and manufacturing services, and specialized training. These institutions and startups have developed over 300 chip designs for fabrication at foundries located both in India and abroad. A record of over 40 million hours of chip design tool usage has also been logged. This has expanded the centralized chip design user base at the CHIP-IN Centre.
Semiconductor Sector Moving from Policy to Production
Semicon India 2026 took place at a time when India’s semiconductor ecosystem is advancing beyond policy support toward manufacturing and commercial production. Under the Semicon India program, 12 semiconductor projects have been approved across six states, entailing investment commitments exceeding ₹1.64 lakh crore. Commercial production has already commenced at three of these plants.
A Comprehensive Approach: From Silicon to Systems
The theme ‘Silicon to Systems: Building the Ecosystem’ reflects the expanding scope of India’s semiconductor strategy. The semiconductor ecosystem encompasses not only chip manufacturing but also chip designers, fabrication units, packaging and testing facilities, equipment and material suppliers, research institutions, startups, system companies, and a skilled workforce. By bringing all these components onto a single platform, Semicon India 2026 showcased the evolving semiconductor ecosystem in India. From processor design and RISC-V technology to AI-enabled SoCs, motor-control chips, high-performance computing, and semiconductor manufacturing, the exhibition highlighted various facets of India’s semiconductor development journey.
