Strategic Collaboration Between Tata Electronics and ASML
Tata Electronics, a leading Indian electronics company, has entered into a significant agreement with ASML, a renowned Dutch semiconductor equipment manufacturer. This partnership aims to bolster India’s semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem, marking a pivotal step in the country's technological advancement. The agreement was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Netherlands, which was the second stop of his five-nation tour that began with the United Arab Emirates.
During the bilateral meeting between Modi and Netherlands Prime Minister Rob Jetten, discussions were held on enhancing cooperation across various sectors, including trade and technology. The leaders also engaged with CEOs of prominent Dutch companies from diverse fields such as energy, ports, health, agriculture, and technology.
In the presence of both leaders, ASML and Tata Electronics formalized their partnership, focusing on establishing India’s first front-end semiconductor fabrication unit in Dholera, Gujarat. This collaboration is seen as a crucial milestone in the growing strategic relationship between India and the Netherlands in critical technologies like semiconductors.
The joint statement from the two firms highlighted that ASML will play a vital role in enabling the successful establishment and ramp-up of Tata Electronics’ upcoming 300 mm (12-inch) semiconductor fab in Dholera. This initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen India’s position in the global semiconductor market.
ASML is well-known for its dominance in producing photolithography machines, which are essential for manufacturing advanced microchips. Tata Electronics is investing ₹91,000 crore to set up India’s first semiconductor wafer fabrication plant. The collaboration will focus on deploying ASML’s advanced lithography tools and solutions for the Dholera fab. This partnership is expected to ensure seamless operations at India’s first commercial 300-mm semiconductor fab.
The partnership will also emphasize accelerating the training of local talent, developing lithography-intensive skills, and ensuring supply-chain resilience. Given the critical role of lithography in chip manufacturing, the companies will invest in research and development infrastructure to support the long-term success of the fab.
The Dholera unit of Tata Electronics aims to manufacture semiconductors for applications across automotive, mobile devices, artificial intelligence, and other key segments, serving customers globally. Tata Electronics has already partnered with key global customers and ecosystem companies, starting with Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation of Taiwan.
During his address to the Dutch CEOs, Modi highlighted that over 300 Dutch companies are actively involved in India's growth story due to their confidence in the country. This has made the Netherlands India’s largest investor and the second-largest trading partner from Europe.
Modi also mentioned that companies like NXP Semiconductors, Philips, and Prosus are creating world-leading solutions with Indian talent, while firms such as APM Terminals, Damen Shipyards Group, and Royal Vopak are transforming India’s port, shipping, and logistics sectors.
"The optimism towards India is clearly visible in all of your words today. We guarantee that this optimism will translate into an outcome," Modi said, emphasizing India's role as a symbol of scale and stability. He added that India contributes 19% to global growth today, highlighting the nation's economic potential.
In the context of stability, Modi stated that his government has transformed the economic DNA through continuous reforms, providing policy predictability to the private sector and expanding opportunities for them. The India-European Union free trade agreement, concluded in January, will serve as a strong foundation for shared prosperity.
"To unlock the full potential of this FTA, Prime Minister Jetten and I are taking several important decisions today. We are elevating this India-Netherlands trusted partnership to a strategic partnership. We are launching an ambitious joint roadmap in green hydrogen. We are making our technology relationship future-ready," Modi said.
Earlier in the day, the Leiden University Library restituted the 11th-century Chola Copper Plates to the Indian government in the presence of Modi and Jetten. These royal charters, issued by the Chola kings, formalize the gifting of Anaimangalam village to a Buddha vihara called Chulamanivarma at Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu. The plates contain texts in Tamil and Sanskrit.
The restitution of these items assumes significance as they represent an invaluable story of India’s heritage and civilization. Modi also met King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands at Palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague, exchanging views on strengthening bilateral relations, including through the deepening of people-to-people ties. The leaders expressed satisfaction at ongoing initiatives in education, innovation, semiconductors, and green partnerships.
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