en.Wedoany.com Reported - Applied Materials, a U.S. chip equipment manufacturer, plans to establish a semiconductor R&D center in India. Avi Avula, President of Applied Materials India, disclosed this information to ETElectronicsWorld.
Avi Avula stated that the semiconductor ecosystem needs to be built through collaboration. For every dollar the company invests, it ideally hopes that the ecosystem and supply chain partners will invest approximately four to five times that amount. In India, the focus is on developing products for global semiconductor fabs, strengthening the innovation ecosystem, expanding advanced R&D capabilities, and enhancing India's contribution to the company's global product portfolio.
Avi Avula noted that Applied Materials India is transforming from a support-centric organization into a product innovation hub, marking a significant shift from traditional service and support functions. By developing products and technologies used in global fabs, India will play a greater role in revenue generation, product innovation, and intellectual property creation, becoming a key contributor to the global business.
The company recently inaugurated a Validation Centre in Bengaluru, the only commercial facility in the region capable of handling 300mm wafers. It also features an advanced 1K-class cleanroom for high-precision inspection, prototyping, and component certification. Additionally, the company has established an AI Center of Excellence in Chennai, focusing on advanced analytics and AI applications to automate high-volume manufacturing, optimize equipment design, and improve throughput.
When asked about the timeline for the new center, Avi Avula did not provide a specific date. He noted that the challenge lies not only in building the facility; semiconductor R&D involves advanced physics, materials science, chemistry, nanoscale engineering, and highly specialized equipment. These capabilities exist in part at institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), but are typically on a small scale and have not yet been elevated to a commercial level. Applied Materials believes it can help bridge this gap.
Avi Avula mentioned that the India Validation Centre was deliberately established as a pilot facility to prove to the company itself that advanced semiconductor R&D can be successfully conducted in India. Currently, it is the only R&D center in India for 300mm wafer processing, allowing the team to handle wafers, operate semiconductor tools, and train engineers. The lab currently has about 10 tools, sufficient for learning and validation needs, but far below the scale required to support long-term goals. As projects continue to advance, the company's confidence in India's ability to support larger-scale R&D operations is growing.
Although building a semiconductor ecosystem from scratch is challenging, the overall momentum, policy support, and commitment are encouraging for the company. India is gradually acquiring the capabilities needed to become a significant player in the industry. Avi Avula stated that the company is working closely with the India Semiconductor Mission and has received strong support from both central and state governments. There is a high degree of alignment between industry and policy, and semiconductors are gaining increasing recognition as a strategic sector for India's economic and technological future.
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