Semiconductor equipment maker ASML has started its operations in India and plans to initially hire around 20 to 30 young engineering graduates, according to a senior company executive.
The company’s expansion in India will depend on the growth of the country’s semiconductor industry and the progress of Tata Electronics’ upcoming chip manufacturing facility.
ASML Starts With a Small Team
Speaking on the sidelines of SEMICON India 2026, ASML Executive Vice President and Head of Customer Support Lin Kiat Yap said the company is starting its India operations with a team of around 20 to 30 people.
He said the pace of expansion would depend on India’s semiconductor ambitions and the progress of Tata Electronics.
ASML develops advanced lithography equipment used to create circuits on silicon wafers, an important step in semiconductor manufacturing. Its technology is used in the production of advanced chips.
Tata Electronics Key to Expansion
Yap said Tata Electronics is taking the first steps towards building a semiconductor ecosystem in India. He added that the success of Tata’s chip manufacturing project could encourage more companies to invest and expand their operations in the country.
ASML Chief Strategic Sourcing and Procurement Officer Allan Wayne said Tata Electronics is its first customer in India to establish a 300-mm semiconductor fabrication plant, with a planned capacity of 50,000 wafers per month.
He said India would need several large fabrication plants to meet its semiconductor ambitions and highlighted government policies and the availability of engineering talent as important factors.
India Targets Higher Local Chip Production
The government has introduced the Semicon 2.0 scheme with an incentive package of around Rs 1.27 lakh crore to support the development of the semiconductor ecosystem.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said investment proposals worth around USD 12 billion are likely to come under the new scheme.
Wayne said India’s goal of meeting 35 to 50 per cent of its semiconductor demand through domestic production by 2035 would require the country to establish several high-capacity chip manufacturing plants.
Focus on Talent and Innovation
Wayne said skilled talent and innovation will be essential for the growth of India’s semiconductor manufacturing sector.
He stressed the importance of Tata Electronics successfully testing and qualifying its first 300-mm fab while maintaining quality, production yields and project timelines.
The Tata Electronics semiconductor plant is scheduled to begin operations in 2028.
As more semiconductor companies enter India, ASML expects demand for skilled professionals to grow. Tata Electronics has estimated that around 450 vendors will support its Dholera facility and is developing 363 vendor parks to accommodate them.
ASML Expansion Could Grow With the Industry
ASML said its immediate focus is on supporting the emerging semiconductor ecosystem in India. The company’s initial hiring of young engineering graduates could expand as chip manufacturing capacity and the number of semiconductor companies operating in the country increase.
