BANGALORE, INDIA: S. Janakiraman, president and CEO –- R&D Services, Mindtree Consulting, and chairman, India Semiconductor Association (ISA), said at a recent meeting that those questioning India's need for fabs would feel terrible on missing out on the opportunities currently being provided by India, by 2015.
Here are the top five trends you are likely to see happening in India in the semiconductor space in 2008. We'd love to hear from you as to what are the other trends that you see happening in 2008.
1. More growth for India
The ISA has forecasted the Indian semiconductor industry to grow by 25-35 percent during 2008.
2. Increase in design activities
On the design side, we are seeing an increase in various activities. More complex analog and digital designs are happening. More of physical designs are happening, including taking those designs up to the foundries – those are increasing as well.
3. More of ATMP initially
In 2008, we will be witnessing more of the assembly, testing, marking and assembly (ATMP) happening in the country. That's going to be a good start.
4. Fabs some time away
There was a question of fabs vs. fabless a couple of years ago. Yes, the fundamental fabs are still a little far away. Most companies are likely to start off by initially testing waters by making some level of investments in ATMP before moving on to fabs. One cannot rule out prospect of some leading Indian company investing in fabs.
5. Product companies will emerge eventually
Product companies are likely to emerge, although, they may start off by first manufacturing electronics products, and later move on to the emergence of semiconductor product companies.