Qualcomm Expands India Focus with Major Manufacturing and Semiconductor Partnerships
In a significant boost to India's technology and manufacturing ambitions, US semiconductor and wireless technology giant Qualcomm has announced plans to establish a comprehensive partnership for manufacturing automotive modules and advancing semiconductor capabilities within the country. The announcement comes just hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged global companies to "design and develop in India" for international markets.
Strategic Announcement Follows PM Modi's Global Call
Qualcomm President and CEO Cristiano Amon revealed that the company will be making formal announcements about manufacturing automotive modules in India with new electronics manufacturing partners. "We are expanding our relationship with India for the beginning of advanced packaging and assembly and testing of semiconductors," Amon stated. "We also want to announce a partnership to start leveraging some of the investment in foundry."
The detailed plans are expected to be unveiled on Friday, marking a substantial expansion of Qualcomm's existing operations in India. The company currently operates its second largest research and development hub in India after the United States, having recently announced the first 2 nanometer chip designed entirely by its Indian team.
Building India's Semiconductor Supply Chain
Amon emphasized that this initiative represents "the beginning of a semiconductor supply chain" in India. "That's a significant expansion because they will not only have design capabilities in the country, but also the ability to manufacture," he explained. "At the end of the day, we all know chips are important. Chips go into everything. The world needs a more diversified and more semiconductor manufacturing capacity."
The Qualcomm executive highlighted how government efforts to create a manufacturing ecosystem for electronics have boosted India's capabilities. "We will leverage investments in India for semiconductor manufacturing as capacity becomes available, and we will begin engagement for fabrication," Amon noted. "Once that is done, these products will be part of the Qualcomm product line-up sold to customers worldwide."
Global Integration and Future Vision
When questioned whether these plans would be confined to India or would cater to the global supply chain, Amon clarified that the company is starting with the design of component chips, particularly for power management, with global integration as the ultimate goal. "Tomorrow, we will be making announcements about manufacturing some of the modules we provide to global companies in India," he confirmed.
Amon also offered advice to the Indian government, encouraging continued commitment to electronic manufacturing, digital governance, and sovereign artificial intelligence initiatives. "Those things, by definition, are multi-year commitments," he observed. "It's really important that the enthusiasm that exists right now continues. It's a multi-year journey. But, at the end of the day I think when it's all done, everybody will look back and say that it was the right decision."
The Qualcomm CEO concluded with a forward-looking statement about India's technological future: "Digital will be important for India and will be a very important tool in the development of the country." This partnership announcement represents a major vote of confidence in India's growing capabilities as both a design hub and manufacturing destination for advanced technology products.
