What gave fresh momentum to India’s semiconductor ambitions was the fourth Semicon India Conference, held in New Delhi on September 3, 2025, where PM Narendra Modi urged Indian firms to be vigilant and proactive in securing global patents for semiconductor chips. From this message, the Prime Minister of India not only underlined the importance of patents and other intellectual property rights (IPR) but also emphasized the need for Indian businesses to recognize their value. He called on the nation to lead the global market, while reminding everyone of the growing importance of semiconductors in shaping the future. But this news has many layers, let’s discover.
What PM Narendra Modi Said on Semiconductors at Semicon India 2025: Patents, IPR, $18B Projects and India’s First ‘Vikram’ Chip
In his speech at the Semicon India 2025 Conference, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid out a clear vision for the future of Made-in-India semiconductors. He began by describing semiconductors as the “digital diamonds of the 21st century,” comparing them to oil, which was considered the “black gold” of the previous century. Modi stressed that while oil powered past generations, it is semiconductor chips that will define the future. These words set the tone for India’s semiconductor ambitions, encouraging greater focus and urgency in this critical sector. He highlighted how emerging industries such as AI, 5G, electric vehicles, advanced healthcare, and space exploration all rest on the foundation of semiconductors, and urged that India must not miss this historic opportunity to become a global leader.
Modi encourages the need to safeguard semiconductors with patent filings and intellectual property rights (IPR). He called on Indian companies to be more vigilant in filing global patents and strengthening their IPR portfolios, noting that patents are the key to maintaining competitiveness and building market leadership.
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PM Narendra Modi on Semiconductor further highlighted several important aspects during his speech.
- Announced $18 billion investment across 10 semiconductor projects.
- The commercial production of Indian-made chips will be achieved by the end of this year.
- Outlined key government support measures, including:
- Production-Linked Incentives (PLI) scheme.
- Design-Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme (revamped).
- Single-window clearances to streamline approvals.
- Establishment of plug-and-play semiconductor parks for investors.
- Emphasized that these initiatives will accelerate India’s shift from a chip consumer to a full-stack global semiconductor hub, covering design, manufacturing, packaging, and R&D.
The Importance of Semiconductors and Where India Stands in the Global Patent Race
Semiconductors are the heart of the digital age. They power almost everything around us — from the smartphones in our pockets and 5G networks to electric cars, life-saving medical equipment, and even space missions. In short, no modern innovation can exist without chips.
Top countries leading in semiconductor patents (2018–2023):
- China – 135,428 patents
- U.S. – 56,000+ patents
- South Korea – 33,000+ patents
- Japan – 30,000+ patents
- Taiwan – 20,000+ patents
India is 24th globally, with 2,178 patent applications in 2023 (up from 1,488 in 2022). This shows promising growth, but also underlines how much ground India must cover to compete with the global giants.
As semiconductors decide the future of AI, green energy, digital healthcare, and national security, countries that own patents will control not just the market but also the direction of global technology. For India, catching up means turning its potential into patents, and patents into leadership, and also working in patent licensing.
Conclusion
PM Narendra Modi on semiconductors has made big strides in semiconductors, with 2,178 patent filings in 2023 (up from 1,488 in 2022), but it still ranks only 24th globally. At the top, China leads with 135,000+ patents, followed by the US, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. To close this gap, India must tackle challenges like building fabs, securing supply chains, and strengthening its IPR base. With $18 billion in projects, government incentives, and the launch of the ‘Vikram’ processor, the ambition is clear — but turning potential into global leadership will be the real test.
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