Semicon 2.0 to Strengthen India's Deep-Tech Startup

• Semicon Mission 2.0 will support deep tech startups, build a semiconductor design ecosystem, and establish equipment manufacturing in India
• The mission will strengthen materials, machinery, testing, and validation capabilities for a 20-year semiconductor roadmap
• A 20 lakh talent gap in the sector offers major opportunities for students as the global semiconductor market nears $1 trillion

The Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw explained that the Indian government's Semicon Mission 2.0 program will provide support to deep tech startups while building a semiconductor design ecosystem and creating manufacturing and design centers throughout India.

The Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology spoke at the Gujarat Semiconnect Conference 2026 opening session about how the semiconductor industry will create 20 lakh job opportunities because of its expected talent shortage, which will benefit students who enter this field.

He stated, “Semicon 2.0 will be totally the reverse of Semicon 1.0, which focused on getting manufacturing facilities in India. We got that. We have 10 plants, with the first starting commercial production yesterday. Very soon, the second plant will start commercial production”.

The top priority of Semicon 2.0, the second phase of India Semiconductor Mission, establishes a design ecosystem which enables deep tech startups to develop next-generation technologies that match Qualcomm, Broadcom and Nvidia.

“And it is not going to be an easy journey. It is going to be a humongous task, and we understand the complexity of it. That is why we are very realistic and pragmatic about it”, said Vaishnaw.

“In the first version, we promised that 85,000 engineers would be trained in semiconductor design in 10 years. It has been achieved in four years itself”, he added.

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The deep tech ecosystem will develop semiconductor design and product innovation until the products reach domestic manufacturing facilities.

The development of a complete equipment manufacturing and design ecosystem will proceed with materials, machinery, testing and validation capabilities serving as essential components of its foundation.

The foundation, according to Vaishnaw, serves as the essential element which supports India's 20-year semiconductor development plan. The new phase will maintain talent development as the primary goal, which Semicon 1.0 established as its main focus.

 The 20 lakh talent gap in Phase 2 of the semiconductor market, which will reach a trillion-dollar value, provides multiple chances for students to support the development of India's semiconductor industry.

Vaishnaw noted, “We are prepared for that. From 350 in Semicon 1.0, we will take it to 500 universities. Every state will have several universities and colleges where students can get trained in semiconductor design, manufacturing, testing and validation and that will create a huge, continuous stream of opportunities for youth”.