Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the global leader in semiconductor fabrication, rejected invitations to set up foundries in India, Singapore, and Qatar. Although the company did not share reasons, analysts point to the lack of a mature semiconductor supply chain. Historically, TSMC has leaned towards locations with a strong existing ecosystem and infrastructure.
Even expansion into the US, Japan, and Germany was driven by political pressure and supported by these countries’ established semiconductor platforms. Contrasting this, TSMC has increased its US investment from $100 billion to $165 billion to build three advanced fabrication facilities, two packaging plants, and a large R&D center in Arizona. This expansion benefits major clients like AMD, NVIDIA, and Apple.
Meanwhile, India is steering confidently in chip design. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the initiation of the country’s first 3nm chip design centers in Noida and Bengaluru. The Indian branch of Renesas, a Japan-based chip company, has opened new R&D centers in Noida and Bengaluru to design India’s first 3nm chips, strengthening the country's focus on advanced semiconductor design capabilities.
This initiative marks a decisive step forward towards fortifying India’s position in the global semiconductor landscape, focusing on performance-centric chip design rather than fabrication for now.
