Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 2: Nearly 20 per cent of the world’s chip design engineers are based in India, underscoring the country’s critical role in the global semiconductor ecosystem, according to a report by Bastion Research.

The study highlighted that India has firmly positioned itself as an integral hub in the semiconductor design chain, with leading global players such as Qualcomm, Intel, Nvidia, Broadcom, and MediaTek operating large R&D and design centres in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Noida.

Explaining the global division of labour, the report noted that while US-based engineers largely define chip architecture and product strategies, Indian teams play a crucial role in executing the design. Their responsibilities include translating architectures into working logic, simulating and testing chips, optimising for speed and power, writing drivers and firmware, and supporting electronic design automation (EDA) tools.

The report emphasised that this is not a “boss versus worker” setup, but rather a complementary system where the US determines the “what” and “why,” and India delivers the “how” with scale and precision.

India’s role is further supported by government initiatives such as the Rs 76,000 crore Semicon India Programme, launched in 2021 to attract global manufacturers and boost domestic capabilities. While semiconductor fabrication facilities are yet to take shape, the country’s strong engineering base, coupled with policy support, is helping India carve out a significant position in the global semiconductor value chain.