CENJOWS, IDS convene workshop to push indigenous semiconductor ecosystem for defence
New Delhi, April 8. A high-level workshop bringing together military leaders, scientists, policymakers, industry representatives and academics focused on accelerating India’s indigenous semiconductor ecosystem for defence applications was held in New Delhi on April 7.
The second edition of the workshop, titled ‘Energising Semiconductor Ecosystem for Defence Applications’, was organised by the Scientific Advisor to the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff in collaboration with the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS) at the Manekshaw Centre.
Welcoming participants, Maj Gen Ashok Kumar (Retd), Director General of CENJOWS, said the initiative builds on deliberations from the first workshop held in December 2024 and reflects sustained efforts by Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff to generate policy inputs and dialogue on strengthening India’s semiconductor base for military needs. He underlined that semiconductors now underpin critical defence technologies, from missile guidance and sensor-shooter networks to secure communications, making the development of a resilient and indigenous ecosystem imperative.
In his inaugural address, Parimal Kumar, Scientific Advisor to the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, described semiconductors as a strategic asset in the current geopolitical environment. While data may be termed the “new oil”, he noted, the ability to process it rests fundamentally on semiconductor chips. He cautioned that, much like energy resources in the past, access to semiconductors could become a strategic lever in global power competition.
Kumar outlined the breadth of India’s emerging semiconductor landscape, citing contributions from DRDO laboratories, Semiconductor Complex Limited in Chandigarh, the India Semiconductor Mission under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and ministries dealing with mining and atomic energy. He stressed the need for a whole-of-nation approach, involving industry, academia, recyclers, equipment manufacturers and intellectual property experts, to ensure supply chain resilience for defence applications.
Delivering the keynote address, Air Marshal Praveen Keshav Vohra, Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Policy, Planning and Force Development), highlighted the risks posed by dependence on foreign semiconductor supply chains. He described semiconductors as the “centre of gravity” in modern warfare and said technological dependence in this domain could directly affect defence preparedness. India’s push for ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in critical technologies, he added, is aimed at reducing such vulnerabilities.
The workshop also featured a special international address by Abe Noriaki, Minister for Political Affairs at the Embassy of Japan, New Delhi, who spoke about growing opportunities for India-Japan collaboration in the semiconductor sector. Referring to lessons from supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, he said both countries remain heavily dependent on semiconductor imports and stand to benefit from closer cooperation in manufacturing, research and skill development.
Three technical sessions examined pathways to enhance self-reliance in semiconductors for defence use, strengthen the ecosystem for Indian industry and R&D institutions, and identify policy interventions required to support indigenous semiconductor development.
The deliberations underscored the strategic urgency of building a secure and self-reliant semiconductor ecosystem to support India’s defence capabilities and long-term technological sovereignty.
