The Gujarat government on Sunday unveiled its Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy 2026–31 and inaugurated the Gujarat SemiConnect Conference-2026, outlining ambitious plans to expand semiconductor manufacturing, design, and research in the state. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel presided over the event, attended by Union Electronics & IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, State Science & Technology Minister Arjun Modhwadia, and representatives from domestic and global semiconductor firms.

Gujarat: From Growth Engine to Tech Engine

Chief Minister Patel described the conference as a turning point, positioning Gujarat as a "tech engine" of India. He highlighted the state’s policy stability, ease of doing business, and infrastructure readiness as key enablers for semiconductor growth. Referring to national objectives like “Viksit Bharat @ 2047” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat”, he stressed Gujarat’s commitment to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of moving “from chip to champion.”

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Dholera and Sanand: The Semicon Hub

Patel noted that the Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR) is evolving into India’s Semicon City, with modern logistics, plug-and-play facilities, and quality infrastructure already in place. A nano-fabrication laboratory at IIT Gandhinagar is under development to support advanced research and training. He also emphasized Gujarat’s renewable energy capacity as a strength for green, sustainable semiconductor production.

Union Minister Vaishnaw: Semicon 2.0 and Workforce Expansion

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the launch of Semicon 2.0, aiming to make India a global hub for chip manufacturing, design, machinery, and talent development. He noted the start of Micron’s first plant in Sanand, marking India’s arrival on the global semiconductor map. Key goals include:

• Promoting deep-tech start-ups to produce homegrown companies like Qualcomm and Nvidia.

• Developing chip-making machinery, materials, and testing ecosystems domestically.

• Training 85,000 engineers, a target originally set for 10 years, achieved in 4 years, with plans to expand semiconductor education across 500 universities.

• Mobilizing $250 billion in infrastructure investments and $17 billion in deep-tech venture funding, with tax incentives guaranteed until 2047.

Economic Impact and Investor Confidence

Deputy Chief Minister Sanghavi underlined Gujarat’s economic significance:

• 18% of India’s manufacturing output from 5% of the population.

• 8% of national GDP, over 30% of exports, and 40% of cargo handling.

He emphasized long-standing political stability as a key attraction for investors, ensuring a secure environment for growth.

State Minister Modhwadia noted that the Covid-19 pandemic exposed global semiconductor vulnerabilities, presenting an opportunity for India to become a self-reliant semiconductor hub. He highlighted the Micron Assembly, Test and Packaging plant in Sanand as a milestone, with further expansion planned under the STI policy.

Gujarat’s STI Policy 2026–31 and the SemiConnect Conference signal a decisive push to position the state — and India — as a global semiconductor and deep-tech powerhouse.

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