THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

TOKYO/NOIDA, OCTOBER 26, 2026

Indian IT services major HCLTech and Japanese advanced semiconductor maker Rapidus Corporation have partnered to strengthen next-generation chip engineering capabilities, inaugurating two dedicated development centres in India to support Japan’s growing semiconductor ambitions.

The centres, located in Bengaluru and Hubli, Karnataka, will provide a range of semiconductor engineering services to Rapidus, including mask design, design infrastructure, process design kit development, design technology co-optimisation and layout design, the companies said in a joint statement on Monday.

The collaboration will also focus on developing a pipeline of skilled Indian engineers to meet Rapidus’ evolving talent requirements in Japan, strengthening technology cooperation between the two countries amid growing global demand for advanced semiconductors.

Rapidus is working to establish next-generation logic semiconductor manufacturing capabilities in Japan, while HCLTech will contribute its engineering expertise and access to India’s expanding semiconductor talent pool.

 “Building a strong engineering ecosystem is essential as Rapidus advances our mission to establish next-generation semiconductor manufacturing capabilities in Japan,” said Dr Atsuyoshi Koike, Representative Director and Chief Executive Officer of Rapidus Corporation.

Through the partnership, the Japanese company expects to access India’s growing pool of semiconductor engineering talent and establish dedicated development capabilities that complement its operations in Japan, he said.

HCLTech Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director C Vijayakumar said advanced semiconductors would shape the technologies of the coming decade, underlining the strategic significance of the partnership.

The collaboration brings together Rapidus’ next-generation semiconductor ambitions and HCLTech’s engineering expertise to accelerate chip adoption, reduce time-to-market and lay the foundations for further semiconductor innovation, he said.

The partnership comes as countries and technology companies seek to strengthen semiconductor ecosystems and expand access to specialised engineering capabilities amid rising demand for advanced computing and digital technologies.

HCLTech, which employs more than 2.3 lakh people across over 60 countries, provides services spanning artificial intelligence, digital technology, engineering, cloud and software. The company reported consolidated revenue of USD 14.8 billion for the 12 months ended September 2026.

Rapidus aims to develop and manufacture advanced logic semiconductors, with a focus on shortening development cycles across chip design, wafer processing and three-dimensional packaging.

The latest collaboration is expected to strengthen the engineering links between India and Japan, combining India’s technology talent base with Japan’s ambitions to build advanced semiconductor manufacturing capabilities.