ASML, a semiconductor equipment manufacturer, has commenced its operations in India. According to a senior company official, the initial plan is to hire between 20 and 30 young graduate engineers to meet current needs.
Speaking at SEMICON India 2026, ASML Executive Vice President and Head of Customer Support, Lin Kiat Yap, told PTI that the company's expansion plan depends on the success of the Tata Electronics division in India and India's ambitions in the semiconductor sector.
When asked when the company would begin operations and scale up in India, Yap replied that it is happening 'right now,' adding that the initial staff will be 20–30 people, with further scaling depending on India's and Tata's ambitions.
ASML provides advanced lithography technology that allows for the creation of circuits on silicon wafers, thereby laying the foundation for transforming a silicon wafer into an active component. The company holds a monopoly in advanced lithography technology, and without its equipment, modern chips cannot be manufactured globally.
Yap noted that many ASML customers are expanding their manufacturing capacities in their respective countries. He also expressed satisfaction that Tata is taking the first steps in building the ecosystem and emphasized the importance of attracting second and third players to ensure Tata's success, which he believes will increase public interest in India's opportunities.
During the event, Allan Wayne, Director of Strategic Sourcing and Procurement at ASML, stated that Tata Electronics is the first customer in India to launch a 300mm semiconductor plant with a production capacity of 50,000 wafers per month.
Wayne stressed that scaling requires the ability to build numerous such plants. He expressed confidence in the support provided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his team regarding the ecosystem, as well as in the high level of talent in India.
Wayne clarified that ASML is entering this market not only to support customers but also to utilize local talent. He quoted a projection: by 2032, India aims to secure 15 to 25 percent of local wafer demand through domestic semiconductor plants, which will require several such facilities.
The government announced the Semicon 2.0 scheme with a subsidy of approximately 1.27 lakh crore rupees or US$13.5 billion to develop the semiconductor ecosystem. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that investment proposals worth $12 billion for chip manufacturing could qualify under this new scheme.
Wayne noted that the government's goal to meet 35–50 percent of India's semiconductor demand locally by 2035 implies the need for roughly a dozen large-scale chip manufacturing plants. He added that there are currently no production plans, which casts doubt on this point.
He concluded that the growth of chip production in the country will critically depend on innovation and talent. Wayne expressed confidence in India's innovative potential after observing recent months but stressed the importance of the first Tata 300mm plant successfully passing testing and achieving good quality and yield according to schedule.
The Tata Electronics semiconductor plant is planned to start operations in 2028. Wayne noted that speed to market and the ability to meet deadlines are what people look for, and more ASML customers are expected to visit India, necessitating the availability of appropriate personnel.
Tata Electronics estimates that the Dhola plant will require support from about 450 suppliers, and the company is building 363 supplier parks to accommodate them.
