Tech Leaders Urge India to Shift Toward Semiconductor Invention

Industry executives at SEMICON India 2026 in New Delhi called for a strategic shift in how India approaches the semiconductor industry, moving from a service-oriented engineering model to one focused on global product invention.

Vikram Meghal, Senior Vice President of Engineering at Infosys, argued that India has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to capture more global value by developing its own intellectual property. He highlighted a significant value gap, noting that while engineering services for a chip concept may be worth tens of millions, the original concept's valuation can reach hundreds of millions. Meghal emphasized that the rise of AI is shifting demand toward system-level scaling and specialized chips, requiring a product mindset focused on strategy and monetization.

Sandeep Kumar, CEO of L&T Semiconductor Technologies, stated that while India has the necessary building blocks, it must address knowledge gaps and increase international exposure for its talent. He urged the industry to transition toward advanced nodes and specialized fields, including radio frequency millimeter-wave and high-power technologies. Addressing the impact of artificial intelligence, Kumar compared the current shift to the Industrial Revolution, asserting that AI will increase productivity and create higher-value work rather than causing widespread job losses.