‘Government’s semiconductor mission will promote research’: MeitY Additional Secretary

The Union authorities has undertaken varied measures, together with a coverage push, to promote deep tech in India, mentioned Amitesh Kumar Sinha, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and CEO of the India Semiconductor Mission, in Chennai on Monday (April 6, 2026). He was addressing the viewers through the inaugural ceremony of The Hindu Deep Tech Summit 2026 hosted by The Hindu Group, in affiliation with the SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST).

“Semiconductors form an industry with many verticals. Though India accounts for nearly 20% of the world’s design engineers, we don’t have our own design companies which is a challenge. The India Semiconductor Mission has a few verticals to address, and we started with design, manufacturing, and packaging,” Mr. Sinha mentioned. “To further deepen this conversation, we are now working towards developing a complete ecosystem under the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0. This will expand beyond the first phase to include materials, research and development, chemicals, gases, equipment manufacturing, and skilling,” he added.

L.V. Navaneeth, CEO, The Hindu Group, mentioned deep tech is not confined to laboratories and analysis papers. He mentioned it’s shaping economies, redefining industries, and influencing the best way folks stay, work and suppose. “From semiconductors and artificial intelligence to advanced materials and space technologies, the next decade belongs to those who can engineer the future, not just imagine it,” he added.

C. Muthamizhchelvan, vice-chancellor, SRMIST, mentioned that the schools have been sending out gifted graduates however not all the time options. He mentioned that the functioning of universities must be formed from an academia perspective. “A deep tech summit like this will eventually bridge the gap between intellectual potential on campuses and the expected impactful solutions for the global challenges. The question we need to ask is, ‘Are we really equipping our students how to build, what to think? Do we have sufficient infrastructure for laboratories for students and faculties to explore beyond what is prescribed in the curriculum and are we opening up to industries?’” he mentioned.

Panneerselvam Madanagopal, CEO, MeitY Startup Hub, (MSH), Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, mentioned that the necessity for industry-academia collaboration is extraordinarily important. “Mentoring, market access, and money are the support that we provide at MeitY Startup Hub. But the challenge today in India is we have a lot of me-too start-ups. We need to look for fundamentally strong companies which are worthy of investment, solving real problems, and driving change in the ecosystem,” he added.

B. Govindarajan, CEO of Royal Enfield India, spoke concerning the function of deep tech within the car {industry}. He additionally mentioned that there was immense alternative for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) too, with about six crore MSMEs performing effectively in India. “For the young minds who are into research and innovation, funding is not a challenge – both Indian industries and the government are ready to support ideas that solve real-world problems,” he mentioned.

The Industry associate for the occasion is Madras Management Association. The Knowledge companions are IHFC, Technology Innovation Hub of IIT Delhi, Ivy Club – Chennai, Sathguru Catalysing Success, 2C Stem Steering Technology Management, BIRAC, Bio-Nest, Niti Aayog Atal Innovation Mission, and DPIIT #startupindia. The Ecosystem associate is Startup Singam.