The Centre for Social and Economic Progress hosted the Seminar on Global Semiconductor Industry – India’s Path Forward. The seminar took place in hybrid mode on December 13, 2022, 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm IST.

The discussion with our panel of experts outlined the structure of the semiconductor industry, the US-China competitive dynamics and the opportunities for India to enter this highly competitive but vital industry.

Register to attend online: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/7516702380252/WN_q6z7xvDBToapBOnVp1dn-w

About the event:

The semiconductor industry was first seeded in the Silicon Valley in the late 1960s and it has now spread across the globe. The industry now commands about $600 billion in annual revenue. In the Fabless segment, the US and South Korea lead, while in the Fab segment, Taiwan and South Korea lead in frontend technology, while China and Taiwan dominate the backend. Semiconductors have become a major factor in global geopolitics due to their commanding strategic value. The US is now using multiple levers to slow the rise of the Chinese semiconductor industry. India is taking its first steps to participate in this industry by launching the Semiconductor Mission. The discussion will highlight how the semiconductor industry in India could pan out in the near future thereby positioning the country as a major player in the electronics value chain.

Speaker:

• Arogyaswami Paulraj

Arogyaswami Paulraj is an Emeritus Professor at Stanford University and a member of the Advisory Committee for Semicon India. After a 25-year service with the Indian Government, he joined the Electrical Engineering Department in 1991. His invention and advancement of MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) wireless technology revolutionised 4G/5G Mobile and WiFi networks, greatly enhancing network performance. MIMO underlies all broadband wireless access networks. Paulraj founded three wireless companies in the US to commercialise MIMO technology, and these were later acquired by Intel, Broadcom and HPE. His recognitions for his invention of MIMO wireless technology include the Marconi Prize, the IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal, and Induction into the Halls of Fame of the US Patent and Trademark Office and the Wireless History Foundation. He has two books on MIMO technology, has published over 400 research papers and is a co-inventor on 83 US patents. His contributions in India, prior to 1991, included developing the Indian Navy’s anti-submarine sonar technology and leading national initiatives in AI, Computing and Military Electronics. He has received several recognitions in India including the Padma Bhushan. 

Chair:

• Vijay Kumar Saraswat

Vijay Kumar Saraswat is a member of NITI Aayog and a member of the Advisory Committee for Semicon India. He is also the Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University. He retired as Secretary, DRDO, after more than four decades of Government service. He is ME from IISc Bangalore and Phd from Osmania University and a gifted scientist with vast experience in defence research in both basic and applied sciences. During his career he has been credited with indigenous development of missiles like PRITHVI, DHANUSH, PRAHAAR and AGNI-5; development of two-tiered Ballistic Missiles Defence (BMD) systems and Initial Operational Clearance of Light Combat Aircraft TEJAS; and Nuclear Submarine INS Arihant. He was the Homi Bhabha Chair Professor and Consultant to IOCL R&D. Presently he is also Chairman of Research Advisory Council of IOCL R&D. He has been the Chairman at NTPC R&D Advisory Council and has also been a part of several government committees. He is a recipient of many prestigious awards, the most notable among them being the Padma Shri (1998) and Padma Bhushan (2013). He has been conferred Honorary Doctorates by more than 25 universities, the latest among them being Jamia Hamdard (2018).

Discussants: 

• Banmali Agrawala 

Banmali Agrawala joined Tata Sons Private Limited as the President, Infrastructure, Defence & Aerospace in October 2017, in his second tenure with the Indian conglomerate. In his earlier role, at GE, he was President and CEO – South Asia. Prior to GE, he was Executive Director (Business Development & Strategy) and a member of the Board of Tata Power. A veteran in the Energy domain, Banmali has over 30 years of global experience. In the Tata Group, Banmali is the Chairman of companies like Tata Projects, Tata Housing Development Company, Tata Realty and Infrastructure Ltd., Air Asia (India) Ltd. and is on the Board of Tata Power and Tata Advanced Systems Limited, Tata Electronics Private Limited and Tata Medical and Diagnostics Limited. He also heads Global Corporate Affairs at Tata Sons including its international offices in ASEAN, MENA, North America, China and the Public Affairs Office, Delhi. An active member of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), he has held several official positions within CII such as Chairman of the Western Regional Council, and currently is also a Member of CII’s National Council.

• Ajai Chowdhry 

Ajai Chowdhry is one of the six founder members of HCL. He is also a member of the Advisory Committee for Semicon India. He has been at the forefront of helping create the Electronics Industry in India. He has been involved in several government committees since 1999. In 2009, he headed the Task Force created by the Minister of State, Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) that formed the basis of the Electronics Policy. In 2011, in recognition for helping build the IT & Electronics industry in India, he was conferred the prestigious Padma Bhushan, one of the highest civilian honours in India. Ajai Chowdhry has a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering from Jabalpur Engineering College and attended the Executive Program at the School of Business Administration in the University of Michigan, USA. He has also been awarded Honoris Causa (D.Sc) by IIT Roorkee; Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design & Manufacturing, Jabalpur; and University of Engineering & Management Kolkata.

Please contact Trishna Wahengbam at TWahengbam@csep.org for event-related or media inquiries.

All content reflects the individual views of the speakers. The Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP) does not hold an institutional view on any subject.