The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) signed three MoUs with technology giant IBM to advance innovation in AI, semiconductors, and quantum technology in India.
The announcement comes four months after the India-US joint declaration, in which the two countries reiterated their support for building resilient global semiconductor supply chains.
Overview
IBM signed the MoUs with three bodies linked to MeitY to accelerate India’s comprehensive national strategy for AI.
IBM will work with IndiaAI, India Semiconductor Mission, and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) to focus on skill development, engaging the ecosystems and accelerating R&D efforts in semiconductors.
#WATCH | Delhi | Sandip Patel, Managing Director, IBM India/South Asia says, "We have signed three MoUs. One of them is on semiconductor research. India will have to build several types of ecosystems for India Semiconductor Mission. R&D is needed for all of that...We have been… https://t.co/20oXZMiy4S pic.twitter.com/1O5NuztE8f
— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2023
Commenting on the collaboration, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & IT, said, “Semiconductors, AI, and Quantum, these three technologies will transform the future in the coming years.”
The move is part of efforts to make India self-reliant in semiconductors and advance its National Quantum Mission.
The National Quantum Mission approved in April this year aims to create a vibrant quantum technology ecosystem in the country.
With the MoUs, MeitY can access IBM’s expertise to build India’s competency and scale its growth mission in the AI, semiconductor and quantum industries.
“The broader opportunity lies in creating a global standard talent pool in India, capable of taking advantage of the opportunities in quantum computing, AI, and semiconductors,” Chandrasekhar remarked.
AI Innovation Platform
IBM and India AI-Digital India Corporation will collaborate to establish a world-class AI Innovation Platform (AIIP) for the country.
The platform will be focused on AI skilling, ecosystem development, and integrating advanced foundation models and generative AI capabilities.
AIIP will serve as an accelerator for incubation and competency development in AI technologies and their use in issues of national importance.
Semiconductor Research Center, National Quantum Mission
IBM will also act as the India Semiconductor Mission’s (ISM) knowledge partner for a semiconductor research centre. The ISM was launched in 2021 under MeitY to develop a sustainable semiconductor and display ecosystem in India.
The MoU will enable IBM to share its experience in intellectual property, tools, initiatives, and skills development. This will help innovation in semiconductor technologies, including logic, advanced packaging and heterogeneous integration, and advanced chip design technologies using modernised infrastructure.
Additionally, IBM and India’s C-DAC will work together to advance India’s National Quantum Mission by building competency in quantum computing technology.
Just 4 months after the historic India-US joint declaration by @POTUS @JoeBiden & PM @narendramodi ji, @GoI_MeitY has entered into a partnership with @IBM in #Quantum, #AI & #Semiconductors - technologies that are set to shape the future.
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@Rajeev_GoI) October 18, 2023
IBM will support #FutureSkills program… pic.twitter.com/8qxSag4gxZ
They will focus on workforce enablement, development of industries and startups, research and development, and quantum services and infrastructure.
Global Semiconductor Race
Per the India-US Joint Declaration, Microchip Technology, Inc. will invest around $300 million, and Advanced Micro Devices will invest $400 million in India over the next five years.
India has upped its efforts to become self-reliant in semiconductors amid the ongoing global semiconductor race.
With semiconductors becoming ubiquitous daily, all countries attempt to ensure self-reliance.
The US has been tightening restrictions on its chips and chipmaking equipment exports that give China access to advanced technology.
The two countries have been particularly embroiled in a bitter chip war, with most semiconductor manufacturing concentrated in Taiwan.