South Korean Simmtech to Establish ₹1,250 Crore Semiconductor Ecosystem Unit

South Korean company Simmtech is set to establish a unit supporting the semiconductor ecosystem near Ahmedabad, in Sanand, at an investment of ₹1,250 crore, according to the announcement made by Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Thursday.

Vaishnaw shared that Simmtech Co Ltd has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat government to establish the unit near the Micron plant in Sanand. Simmtech is recognized as the world's largest manufacturer of semiconductor substrate. Speaking at the Vibrant Gujarat summit in Gandhinagar, Vaishnaw stated, "They will start working in the next three-odd months," confirming that Simmtech has been allocated 30 acres of land in Sanand for this purpose.

This development marks the second semiconductor plant announced for Gujarat, with Micron Technology already in the process of establishing the first unit. According to the minister, Micron's Sanand factory is on track to produce its first chip by December 2024.

Further, Vaishnaw disclosed plans for a larger semiconductor fab unit proposed by the Tata Group in Dholera. While the project evaluation is still ongoing, the minister hinted at its substantial scale and indicated that Tata would bring in technical partners for the venture.

In terms of workforce development and research initiatives, Vaishnaw mentioned that Namtech will undertake the training of technicians for the semiconductor industry in Gujarat. Additionally, IIT Gandhinagar is poised to become the center of excellence for semiconductor research and development in the region. The combined efforts signal a significant stride towards bolstering India's presence in the global semiconductor landscape and fostering innovation and skill development in the sector.

HBL