Semicon 2.0 will develop a design environment and support deep tech startups: Ashwini Vaishnaw, a Union minister

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday said that the Centre’s Semicon Mission 2.0 will focus on strengthening deep tech startups, building a strong chip design ecosystem and developing equipment manufacturing and design facilities within the country.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the Gujarat Semiconnect Conference 2026, the Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology said that a projected talent gap of 20 lakh in the semiconductor sector will create significant opportunities for students across India.

He said Semicon 2.0 would be “the reverse” of Semicon 1.0. The first phase primarily focused on bringing semiconductor manufacturing facilities to India, a goal he said has been achieved. “We have 10 plants, with the first starting commercial production yesterday. Very soon, the second plant will start commercial production,” he noted.

According to Vaishnaw, the top priority under Semicon 2.0 — the second phase of India’s Semiconductor Mission — will be to create a strong design ecosystem that enables deep tech startups to build globally competitive companies. He said the aim is to create the next generation of firms comparable to global chip giants such as Qualcomm, Broadcom and Nvidia.

He acknowledged that the journey would be complex and challenging, adding that the government is approaching the mission in a realistic and pragmatic manner. The deep tech startup ecosystem, he said, will focus on semiconductor design and innovative product development, which can later be manufactured in fabrication plants. The next priority will be establishing a domestic ecosystem for equipment manufacturing and design.

Vaishnaw stressed the importance of building a strong foundation for a 20-year semiconductor journey by ensuring the presence of materials, machines, equipment, testing and validation infrastructure within the country.

He added that talent development, a key focus area in Semicon 1.0, will remain a priority. “In the first version, we promised 85,000 engineers would be trained in semiconductor design in 10 years. It has been achieved in four years itself,” he said.

Highlighting global trends, the minister said the semiconductor industry is expected to grow from an $800–900 billion market to a trillion-dollar industry. This expansion, combined with the anticipated 20 lakh talent gap, will open up large-scale opportunities for India’s youth.

He said the number of participating universities will be increased from 350 under Semicon 1.0 to 500 in the second phase. “Every state will have universities and colleges where students can get trained in semiconductor design, manufacturing, testing and validation — creating a continuous stream of opportunities for young people,” he added.