The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Bengaluru): Applied Materials, an engineering solutions firm, inaugurated its ‘India Validation Center’ (IVC) at its Bengaluru location in Karnataka, India, on March 9, 2024. The event was presided over by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, signifying a significant advancement in fostering India’s semiconductor sector.
Constructed to the highest standards of safety, the center is designed for initial pilots, as well as for fostering talent and skill development. This initiative supports the forthcoming India Collaborative Engineering Center through validation, process engineering, laboratory management, and collaboration with academic institutions and suppliers. The facility brings new capabilities for the comprehensive design, characterization, and qualification of semiconductor equipment. A milestone was the demonstration of processing 300-mm wafers at the IVC, marking a first in India’s private sector.
Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the growth of India’s semiconductor ecosystem under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, stressing its critical role in India’s progress towards becoming a developed nation. He praised the India Validation Center for illustrating the commitment and efficiency of India’s strategy to enhance its self-reliance in semiconductor manufacturing. Applied Materials has played a pivotal role in this endeavor, with its engineering being a cornerstone of nearly every tech product containing a chip today. The center is poised to augment manufacturing capabilities within the sector, reflecting the global confidence in India’s potential.
Prabu Raja, President of the Semiconductor Products Group at Applied Materials, expressed optimism about India’s prospects in the field, viewing the India Validation Center as a key milestone in their journey of innovation. The company plans to continue expanding its capabilities in India, supporting clients and collaborating with local supply chains to bolster the semiconductor industry.
Satheesh Kuppurao, Vice President of Business Development and Country President of Applied Materials India, shared his enthusiasm for India’s burgeoning role in the semiconductor value chain. He emphasized the center’s role in enabling the company to offer advanced coaching, training, and demonstration of application development necessary for nurturing the growing semiconductor ecosystem in India.
Applied Materials, Inc., known for its leadership in materials engineering solutions, plays a crucial role in the production of virtually every new chip and advanced display globally. The company’s expertise in material modification at the atomic level and industrial scale has been instrumental in turning potential into reality, paving the way for a brighter future.