SiCSem breaks ground on India’s first integrated semiconductor device manufacturing facility in Bhubaneswar

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, NOVEMBER 1, 2025

In a historic stride toward India’s semiconductor self-reliance, SiCSem Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of Archean Chemical Industries Ltd., has broken ground for the nation’s first Integrated Device Manufacturing (IDM) facility at Info Valley, Bhubaneswar. The ₹2,067-crore project marks a defining moment in advancing the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), reinforcing the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and positioning Odisha as a key hub for advanced electronics manufacturing.

The Bhoomi Pujan and groundbreaking ceremony was attended by an eminent gathering of dignitaries including Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw (through a video message), and Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, Odisha’s Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Electronics & IT and Parliamentary Affairs. Senior officials such as Manoj Ahuja, Chief Secretary, and Vishal Dev, Principal Secretary, E&IT Department, along with industry leaders including Ranjit Pendurthi, Managing Director of Archean Chemical Industries Ltd., and Guru Thalapaneni, Managing Director of SiCSem, were also present.

In his video message, Ashwini Vaishnaw congratulated SiCSem and the Odisha Government, calling the occasion a “milestone in India’s semiconductor journey.” He lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for spreading advanced technology to states like Odisha and Assam and announced support for industry-academia collaboration through the establishment of the NaMo Semiconductor Lab at IIT Bhubaneswar, funded by ₹4.95 crore from MPLAD. “Our dream of bringing advanced technology to Odisha is coming true today. By connecting industry and academia, we are preparing India’s youth to become global leaders in semiconductor innovation,” he said.

The SiCSem facility, expected to be operational by 2027-28, will be India’s first compound semiconductor fab and ATMP (Assembly, Testing, Marking & Packaging) unit. Designed to process 60,000 silicon carbide wafers annually and package around 96 million units, it will serve critical sectors such as **electric vehicles, railways, renewable energy, data centres, smart grids, and industrial automation. The project is set to generate over 1,000 direct jobs and several thousand indirect employment opportunities, fueling Odisha’s economic and technological growth.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi hailed the project as a transformative milestone for the state, saying, “The establishment of SiCSem’s Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing Facility marks a defining moment in Odisha’s journey to becoming a national hub for semiconductor manufacturing and innovation. Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and through the India Semiconductor Mission, we are laying the foundation for a vibrant electronics ecosystem that will drive the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and Atmanirbhar Bharat.”

Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Mukesh Mahaling highlighted the state’s proactive approach to attracting high-tech investments. “Odisha’s forward-looking policies in Electronics, Semiconductors, and AI provide comprehensive incentives for investment, skilling, and R&D. The dedicated Semiconductor and ESDM Park, being developed in partnership with IIT Bhubaneswar, will further accelerate our emergence as a national semiconductor hub. SiCSem’s facility will not only create high-quality jobs but also contribute significantly to Viksit Odisha 2036,” he said.

Expressing gratitude to both Central and State governments, Ranjit Pendurthi of Archean Chemicals stated, “The Bhoomi Pujan of SiCSem’s facility marks the beginning of a new era of innovation for Odisha and India. With continued guidance from the India Semiconductor Mission and the State’s strong support, Info Valley will soon emerge as a global hub for compound semiconductors, driving India’s technological self-reliance.”

SiCSem’s commitment to strengthening India’s semiconductor ecosystem is further reflected in its ₹64-crore collaboration with IIT Bhubaneswar to establish the Silicon Carbide Research & Innovation Centre (SiCRIC). The centre aims to advance SiC research, design innovation, and academia-industry linkages, while nurturing the next generation of semiconductor professionals.

With the foundation of SiCSem’s state-of-the-art facility, **Bhubaneswar is poised to take centre stage in India’s semiconductor revolution**, propelling the nation toward a **self-reliant, innovation-led, and globally competitive electronics manufacturing ecosystem**.