The conference was graced by Ms. Tulika Pandey, Scientist ‘G’ & Group Coordinator, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, as the Guest of Honour. Shri Madhvendra Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Electronics Sector Skills Council of India (ESSCI); Ms. Sheetal Chopra, Director, National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), MeitY, as the Special Guests and other esteemed panelists from the industry and academia.

Addressing the august gathering, Ms. Tulika Pandey highlighted that semiconductor sovereignty today extends beyond manufacturing capabilities to encompass trusted technologies, resilient supply chains, secure digital infrastructure and indigenous innovation. She emphasised that the Government of India, through the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) and the recently announced ISM 2.0, is creating a comprehensive ecosystem covering semiconductor design, fabrication, packaging, testing, research, innovation and advanced manufacturing. Calling upon industry to transition from technology adopters to technology creators, she stressed the need for greater participation in global standards, advanced materials, emerging technologies and ethical innovation. She further highlighted that MSMEs, startups and innovators will play a defining role in shaping India’s semiconductor future and reiterated that close collaboration between government, industry, academia and the skilling ecosystem is essential to realize the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Highlighting the critical role of talent development, Ms. Sheetal Chopra stated that human capital remains India’s greatest strategic advantage in the global semiconductor landscape. She noted that while fabrication facilities and manufacturing investments are important, India’s long-term competitiveness will depend on building a highly skilled workforce capable of contributing across the semiconductor value chain from the very first day. She highlighted NIELIT’s expanding role in strengthening India’s semiconductor talent ecosystem through its nationwide network of 56 centres, specialised programmes in semiconductor design, VLSI, embedded systems and emerging technologies, along with flagship initiatives such as the Centre of Excellence in Chip Design, Noida, the e-Chip Hub national learning platform and upcoming Centres of Excellence in Assam and Gujarat. She emphasised that democratising access to advanced technology education across Tier-II, Tier-III cities and aspirational districts will be instrumental in creating a globally competitive semiconductor workforce.

Shri Madhvendra Singh emphasized that semiconductor sovereignty has become a strategic imperative for India’s economic growth and national security. He noted that India’s semiconductor ecosystem is witnessing unprecedented momentum with 13 approved semiconductor projects, cumulative investments exceeding USD 20 billion, and a domestic semiconductor market projected to reach nearly USD 130 billion by 2030. He highlighted that this rapid expansion would require nearly 400,000 semiconductor professionals and approximately 1.5 million skilled workers across the broader semiconductor value chain. Stressing that MSMEs will be the backbone of component manufacturing, testing, packaging and precision engineering, he highlighted ESSCI’s initiatives in developing industry-aligned occupational standards, specialised curriculum, Centres of Excellence, apprenticeship programmes and faculty development to create a globally competitive semiconductor workforce.

Presenting the industry’s perspective, Shri Karan Mangla, Co-Chair, Foreign Trade & Investment Committee, PHDCCI, and Promoter & Director, S H Haryana Wire, stated that India has made remarkable progress in establishing the foundations of a robust semiconductor ecosystem through the approval of 13 semiconductor projects under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) and the rollout of ISM 2.0. He emphasised that the country’s next priority must be to translate policy momentum into large-scale manufacturing by accelerating infrastructure development, ensuring cleanroom readiness, strengthening power and water infrastructure, and streamlining regulatory approvals. Stressing that semiconductor sovereignty cannot be achieved without a resilient domestic supply chain, he highlighted the indispensable role of MSMEs in component manufacturing, specialty materials, precision engineering, cleanroom consumables and allied industries. He further called for dedicated vendor development programmes, stronger industry-academia collaboration, manufacturing clusters and demand-side support to enable Indian enterprises to emerge as globally competitive players in the semiconductor value chain.

Welcoming the distinguished delegates, Dr. Jatinder Singh, Deputy Secretary General, PHDCCI, stated that semiconductors have emerged as the foundation of economic resilience, technological leadership and national security amid evolving geopolitical dynamics and global supply chain realignments. He said the conference was conceptualised to provide a common platform for policymakers, industry, academia and MSMEs to develop a shared roadmap for indigenous semiconductor design, fabrication, packaging and advanced manufacturing while identifying critical gaps in skilling, infrastructure and investments. Stressing the indispensable role of MSMEs in the semiconductor value chain, he said PHDCCI remains committed to supporting industry through policy advocacy and stakeholder engagement.

The conference also featured two high-level technical sessions titled “Building India’s Semiconductor Workforce: ISM 2.0 Training Mandate & Industry-Ready Talent” and “From Policy to Production: ISM 2.0, Manufacturing Scale-Up & Indigenous Design.” The sessions witnessed extensive deliberations on semiconductor manufacturing, indigenous chip design, talent development, advanced packaging, research and innovation, investment opportunities, MSME integration and supply chain resilience. Experts emphasised that sustained collaboration among government, industry, academia, research institutions and startups will be crucial for positioning India as a trusted global hub for semiconductor design, manufacturing and innovation.

The conference concluded with a strong consensus that India’s semiconductor ambitions must be driven by policy stability, accelerated investments, world-class infrastructure, a robust skilling ecosystem and a vibrant MSME network. Participants reaffirmed that by combining indigenous innovation with strategic partnerships and talent development, India is well-positioned to emerge as a leading global destination for semiconductor manufacturing and technology, contributing significantly to the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047.

GURUGRAM, India – June 04, 2026 – Samsung India felicitated 30 outstanding students from across the country under the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) programme, awarding each topper ₹1 lakh for exceptional performance in each of the four courses­ — Artificial Intelligence (AI), Coding & Programming, Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data.

The awardees included four national toppers, along with 26 state-level toppers and one social media champion, selected from 20,000 students trained through Samsung Innovation Campus, the company’s flagship CSR programme. The students selected from the 2025 cohort represent 10 states, reflecting the growing spread of technology talent beyond India’s traditional innovation hubs

The toppers were felicitated at Samsung India’s headquarters in Gurugram in the presence of JB Park, President and CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia. “When I look at all of you, I do not just see students. I see future engineers, creators, entrepreneurs, researchers and perhaps future CEOs. AI, coding and data are no longer skills of tomorrow; they are skills of today. Innovation requires curiosity, resilience and the courage to learn from failure. Keep learning, keep adapting and keep moving forward,” said JB Park, President and CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia, at the event.

Aligned with the Government of India’s Skill India and Digital India missions, Samsung Innovation Campus is Samsung’s flagship CSR initiative focused on building future-ready technology skills among the youth. As a partner in India’s growth story, Samsung continues to invest in talent, strengthen local ecosystems, and work closely with education and skilling institutions to create a digitally empowered and innovation-led Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

The stories behind the toppers reflected how technology education can unlock new possibilities.

Aishwarya Sanjay from Karnataka, pursuing a Master’s degree in Agricultural Extension Education, used her learning from the programme to develop an AI-driven model aimed at improving market access for farmers through community-supported agriculture.

Shivam Singh from Uttar Pradesh explored IoT, cybersecurity and automation technologies through the programme, building projects ranging from home automation systems to cybersecurity models, experiences that helped him secure an internship with National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India.

Similarly, Dev Uppal from Delhi and Vanshika Raghav from Haryana credited Samsung Innovation Campus with helping them apply classroom learning to real-world challenges while strengthening their confidence, analytical thinking and technical capabilities.

Besides the award ceremony at the Samsung Head Office, the students also had the opportunity to explore Samsung’s innovation ecosystem through visits to Samsung R&D Institute Noida, Samsung R&D Institute Delhi and Samsung Design Delhi. They interacted with technology leaders to understand how the skills gained through Samsung Innovation Campus can be applied to solve real-world challenges. They also gained insights into Samsung’s design philosophy, user-centric innovation processes, and next-generation product development.

Through structured training in AI, Coding & Programming, IoT and Big Data, the programme equips students with industry-relevant skills while fostering innovation, critical thinking and digital leadership. As India accelerates its digital transformation, Samsung Innovation Campus continues to create pathways for young talent to access technology education, mentorship and opportunities, helping build the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers.

The event also included Madhvendra Singh, CEO, Electronics Sector Skills Council of India (ESSCI) and Lt Gen Kulbhushan H Gawas, CEO, Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC). SIC is implemented in collaboration with the ESSCI and TSSC, two sector skill councils, responsible for defining industry skill standards, certifications and workforce development under the country’s Skill India ecosystem.