Thursday 5 September 2024

Continuing the exploration of India-Singapore cooperation in semiconductors, we delve deeper into the figures and facts supporting this strategic collaboration, as both nations look to strengthen their semiconductor ecosystems to meet domestic needs and contribute to global exports.

Continuing the exploration of India-Singapore cooperation in semiconductors, we delve deeper into the figures and facts supporting this strategic collaboration, as both nations look to strengthen their semiconductor ecosystems to meet domestic needs and contribute to global exports.

### Global Semiconductor Market and Supply Chain Dynamics

The **global semiconductor market** is undergoing significant shifts due to rising demand and supply chain vulnerabilities. The COVID-19 pandemic, combined with geopolitical tensions such as the U.S.-China trade war, has caused disruptions in the supply of chips, leading to shortages in industries ranging from automotive to consumer electronics. The **global chip shortage** is projected to persist until **2024**, amplifying the need for diversified manufacturing and resilient supply chains.

By 2030, the semiconductor market is expected to reach **$1 trillion**, with the Asia-Pacific region accounting for the majority of growth due to strong demand in **China, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and India**. This backdrop presents India and Singapore with an opportunity to fill the gap in supply and reduce dependency on a few dominant players.

### India's Semiconductor Industry: Facts and Figures

India is laying a strong foundation to become a major player in the semiconductor industry, with plans to build an entire ecosystem from design to manufacturing. Here are key figures and facts that illustrate India’s potential:

- **Market Demand:** India’s semiconductor demand is expected to reach **$110 billion** by 2030, fueled by increased consumption in sectors such as **automotive electronics, 5G infrastructure, smartphones, telecom, aerospace, and defense**.
- **Investment Plans:** The Indian government has committed **$10 billion** under the **Semicon India Program** to attract companies to set up fabrication units, semiconductor packaging, and assembly units. As of 2023, **$1.6 billion** has already been earmarked for projects, including incentives for chip design and R&D.
- **Semiconductor Design Expertise:** India already contributes **20% of the global semiconductor design talent** and hosts **2,000 chip design engineers**, with major global companies like **Qualcomm, Intel, Nvidia, Texas Instruments**, and **Broadcom** having their design centers in the country.
- **Manufacturing Initiatives:** 
   - **Vedanta-Foxconn Project:** A **$19.5 billion** joint venture to establish a semiconductor and display manufacturing facility in Gujarat, with a focus on producing **28nm chips** to meet domestic and international demand.
   - **Tata Electronics:** Planning to invest over **$300 million** in semiconductor packaging and testing facilities, with an aim to enter advanced packaging by **2025**.
   - **ISMC Project:** A consortium led by **Abu Dhabi’s Next Orbit Ventures** is investing **$3 billion** to set up a **65nm fab** in Karnataka.

India's strategy is to cover the entire value chain, from **chip design to fabrication and packaging**, to reduce reliance on imports (currently, **80% of India’s semiconductors are imported**) and position itself as a global semiconductor hub.

### Singapore's Semiconductor Industry: Facts and Figures

Singapore’s semiconductor industry is already well-established, with a focus on **advanced manufacturing, R&D, and supply chain integration**. Here are key figures and data points about Singapore’s role:

- **Global Share:** Singapore contributes **11%** to the global semiconductor market, and the semiconductor industry accounts for **7% of the country’s GDP**.
- **Semiconductor Companies:** Singapore is home to **60 semiconductor companies**, including major global players such as **GlobalFoundries, Micron Technology, Broadcom, Infineon Technologies**, and **STMicroelectronics**. These companies have invested over **$60 billion** in Singapore’s semiconductor infrastructure.
- **Wafer Fabrication:** Singapore ranks as the **fourth-largest** wafer fabrication market globally, accounting for **5% of the world’s wafer output**. Singapore is specialized in **200mm and 300mm wafer fabs**, which are crucial for producing advanced chips used in **5G, IoT**, and **AI** applications.
- **R&D Investment:** Singapore’s government invests heavily in R&D, particularly in the semiconductor sector, through initiatives like the **Research, Innovation, and Enterprise (RIE) 2025** plan, which allocates **$25 billion** for research in areas including **semiconductors, AI**, and **quantum computing**.
- **Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC):** Singapore plays a key role in semiconductor manufacturing, focusing on **sub-10nm** node chips for advanced applications. Companies like **Micron** and **GlobalFoundries** have expanded their operations in Singapore, increasing their production capacity by **30%** over the past five years.

### Joint India-Singapore Semiconductor Projects and Plans

The complementary strengths of India and Singapore make them ideal partners in the semiconductor industry. The following projects and plans highlight their potential for cooperation:

#### 1. **India-Singapore Semiconductor Corridor**
India and Singapore are exploring the creation of a **semiconductor supply chain corridor** that links **Singapore’s advanced fabs** with **India’s assembly, packaging, and testing units**. This corridor would facilitate the movement of raw materials, wafers, and finished products between the two countries, creating a seamless value chain for global exports.

#### 2. **Collaborative R&D Projects**
India and Singapore are also collaborating on R&D in next-generation semiconductor technologies, including **AI accelerators, edge computing chips, and quantum computing hardware**. Institutions like **India’s C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing)** and Singapore’s **Institute of Microelectronics (IME)** are leading joint research efforts.

#### 3. **Talent Exchange Programs**
Both countries are working on **semiconductor talent development** through exchange programs that will allow engineers from Singapore to collaborate with India’s **chip design talent**, while Indian engineers gain experience in Singapore’s **wafer fabrication plants**. This will address skill gaps and promote knowledge transfer between the two nations.

#### 4. **Joint Ventures in Packaging and Testing**
With Singapore’s expertise in **advanced semiconductor packaging** and India’s focus on building **chip assembly and testing facilities**, the two countries are exploring joint ventures to establish new facilities that can handle **7nm and 5nm** chips. This collaboration is expected to reduce dependency on traditional players like **Taiwan and South Korea**.

### Future Projections and Export Potential

India and Singapore have ambitious goals for increasing their semiconductor exports by leveraging their cooperation. The following projections illustrate the export potential:

#### India’s Export Projections
- By **2027**, India is expected to contribute **$30-35 billion** in global semiconductor exports, driven by its **domestic fabs, design expertise, and packaging units**. India’s export strategy focuses on meeting the global demand for chips used in **automotive electronics, industrial automation**, and **smart devices**.
- The **PLI scheme** for semiconductor manufacturing is expected to attract **$25 billion** in investments by **2026**, with several large-scale fabs expected to come online by **2025**. India’s goal is to become a net exporter of **low-power chips and IoT chips** by **2030**.

#### Singapore’s Export Projections
- Singapore, with its established semiconductor manufacturing base, aims to increase its semiconductor exports by **15% annually**, reaching over **$50 billion** in exports by **2028**. The focus will be on **high-value chips** for applications in **AI, 5G infrastructure**, and **autonomous vehicles**.
- Singapore’s **Micron Technology facility**, the largest DRAM plant in the world, is expanding its production capacity to cater to the global **data center** and **high-performance computing** markets, which are projected to drive export growth.

### Conclusion

The semiconductor industry is at the heart of the technological revolution, and the cooperation between India and Singapore offers a powerful avenue for both nations to enhance their roles in the global supply chain. With India building up its **semiconductor design, manufacturing, and packaging ecosystem** and Singapore focusing on **advanced manufacturing and logistics**, the two countries are poised to meet global semiconductor demands and become major players in the export market.

Through joint ventures, talent development, and supply chain integration, India and Singapore can significantly increase their semiconductor exports, contributing to the diversification and resilience of the global semiconductor industry. This cooperation will not only boost the economic growth of both countries but also position them as key players in shaping the future of global technology innovation.

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