A*STAR leverages on IIT Kharagpur for simulation and modelling
India’s semiconductor ecosystem is taking shape at an accelerated pace and is expected to draw international attention in the next three to five years. However, it would help to have an umbrella agency to translate technologies from the country’s institutions working on chip-based technologies into industry.
“We see Government-led momentum picking up in developing the semiconductor industry, with research institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technologies (IITs) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore investing in semiconductors and training manpower,” says Dr Navab Singh, Deputy Executive Director for Technology Research and Pathfinding at A*STAR Institute of Microelectronics (A*STAR IME), Singapore’s national R&D agency which is working with IIT Kharagpur (IIT-K) on thermal management for AI hardware.
“We have very good semiconductor fabrication infrastructure here, and very skilled people who can develop prototypes for testing. But this requires a lot of simulation and modelling, so we are leveraging IIT Kharagpur for simulation and modelling. These are complementary skills,” Press Trust of India quoted Singh as saying.
In addition to the Indian Government’s efforts on technologies, the country’s heavy-weight industries such as Tata Electronics are deeply involved in investment-driven projects. “The ecosystem is very important, and India is now developing it. Once that ecosystem is in better shape, I think that will be the inflection point for India,” noted the stalwart at A*STAR which hosted “Innovate Together”, a full-day semiconductor industry conference on 25 Sept highlighting the agency’s broad range of projects to nearly 800 international delegates.
A wide range of research work is in progress in semiconductors at IITs across India, noted the IIT Delhi alumni who is now part of the 6,000-strong research group at A*STAR which is leading the Singapore-side in semiconductor collaboration with India.
Dr Navab Singh believes India’s semiconductor sector will see real momentum in the next three to five years. He said an agency equivalent to A*STAR could help India, as A*STAR works with universities on research and then takes technologies “from pathfinding through to translation and technology development” with industry.
The Indian Government has set a target of US$200 billion semiconductor industry by 2035. “India’s significant investments in semiconductors are opening opportunities for stronger research and innovation partnerships between Indian institutions and Singapore, including A*STAR,” said Dr Singh. “By combining India’s strengths in fundamental research with A*STAR’s expertise in translational R&D and industry engagement, both sides can create valuable synergies that support the growth of the semiconductor ecosystem.”
He also said A*STAR would be happy to partner with Indian institutions and industry across its semiconductor programmes. The island state agency is developing advanced packaging, silicon photonics, power electronics and flat optics. It is also working on RF GaN, which enables energy efficient, high-frequency communications for wireless networks, satellites and radar. Another of its six programmes is PiezoMEMS for enabling compact sensors and actuators for consumer, healthcare, automotive and industrial applications.
“As semiconductor systems become more complex, performance increasingly depends on how chips are integrated, connected and powered, he pointed out. “Key challenges include moving data quickly and efficiently, managing electricity and heat, and maintaining system reliability.”
The role of semiconductors in every sector of the global economy will be increasing as demand for chip-based systems and Artificial Intelligence (AI), Quantum Computing and new innovations will be growing, said Dr Navab Singh who is among lead officials at A*STAR tapping the best talent from around the world.
The city-state agency has a massive US$29 billion five-year programme focused on research and innovation for enterprises. Singapore semiconductors accounts for 10 per cent of the global chip output and 20 per cent of the global semiconductor equipment output. The five-decade old industry employs 35,000 people and contributes close to six per cent of the prosperous city state’s GDP.
According to published data as of August 2026, the global semiconductor revenue was estimated at US$1.6 trillion, up from US$809 billion in 2025, reflecting strong demand and pricing for memory used in AI infrastructure. Fiinews.com
