Washington: The US Department of State has announced a partnership with India to explore opportunities to grow and diversify the global semiconductor ecosystem, with funding provided under International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund created under the CHIPS Act of 2022. The partnership aims to create a more resilient, secure, and sustainable global semiconductor value chain.
The initial phase will involve a comprehensive assessment of India’s existing semiconductor ecosystem, regulatory framework, workforce, and infrastructure needs. The US will work with India's Semiconductor Mission under the Ministry of Electronics and IT, and key Indian stakeholders, including state governments, educational institutions, research centres, and private companies, are expected to participate.
The partnership is part of the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) announced in January 2023, which promised support for the development of a semiconductor design, manufacturing, and fabrication ecosystem in India. The focus on semiconductors is also a key aspect of the Quad (India, US, Japan, and Australia) joint initiative to map capacity, identify vulnerabilities, and bolster supply-chain security for semiconductors and their vital components.
The US State Department has allocated $500 million over five years for ITSI Fund, which will be used to promote the development and adoption of secure and trusted telecommunications technologies, secure semiconductor supply chains, and other programmes and initiatives with allies and partners.
