Modi lays foundation stone for HCL–Foxconn chip plant in UP, bolstering India’s semiconductor push
Narendra Modi on Tuesday virtually laid the foundation stone for the HCL–Foxconn joint venture semiconductor project, India Chip Pvt. Ltd, at the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority. Addressing the event via video link, the Prime Minister said the facility would strengthen India’s presence in the global chip ecosystem and advance technological self-reliance, aligning with the vision of making the current decade India’s “Tech Decade.” He said the project would reinforce Uttar Pradesh’s emerging identity as a technology hub and support critical sectors ranging from AI and future telecom to defence and electric vehicles.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the plant will produce about 3.6 crore chips and highlighted that electronics manufacturing has expanded sharply over the past decade, now among India’s top export categories. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath credited infrastructure growth—such as the Jewar International Airport and dedicated freight corridors—for attracting high-tech investment. For non-Indian companies, the project signals India’s intent to integrate deeper into global supply chains, offering potential opportunities in sourcing, partnerships, and market access as the country builds a domestic semiconductor ecosystem aligned with international manufacturing standards.
Editor’s Note: Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually laid the foundation stone for the HCL–Foxconn semiconductor plant in Uttar Pradesh, positioning it as a key step in India’s drive for technological self-reliance and global chip leadership. The facility, expected to produce 3.6 crore chips, underscores UP’s rise as a tech hub while signaling India’s deeper integration into global supply chains.
Taiwan sees rising scope for AI ties with India amid growing semiconductor investments
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India on Wednesday said expanding Taiwanese investments in India’s semiconductor sector are opening new avenues for collaboration in artificial intelligence. Its representative, Mumin Chen, told ANI on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi that Taiwan’s strength in chip manufacturing — a core enabler of advanced AI systems — positions it as a strategic partner for India’s fast-growing technology ecosystem. He noted that several Taiwanese firms are already investing in India with a focus on semiconductors and expressed confidence that cooperation would extend into AI research and applications.
Chen also described India as both a key technology development hub and a rapidly expanding market, predicting a stronger presence of Taiwanese high-tech companies in the coming years. The summit, being hosted in India for the first time and in the Global South, has drawn wide international participation and features a Taiwanese expert delegation as panellists. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the AI Impact Expo at Bharat Mandapam earlier this week. For non-Indian companies, the push signals India’s intent to build an integrated AI–semiconductor ecosystem, creating opportunities for global firms in chip supply, AI solutions, and joint R&D as India deepens its role in international technology value chains.
Editor’s Note: Taiwan’s representative in India highlighted that growing semiconductor investments by Taiwanese firms are opening new opportunities for collaboration in artificial intelligence, positioning Taiwan as a strategic partner for India’s tech ecosystem. At the India AI Impact Summit, he emphasized India’s role as a fast-expanding market and technology hub, predicting stronger Taiwanese high-tech presence and joint R&D in the coming years.
India, Brazil move to deepen ties on critical minerals to build resilient supply chains
Narendra Modi and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Saturday agreed to enhance cooperation in critical minerals and rare earths following talks in New Delhi, aiming to strengthen resilient supply chains and reduce dependence on dominant suppliers. Modi said the agreement marked a major step in securing materials vital for electric vehicles, renewable energy, electronics and defence, while Lula stressed that investments in renewable energy and critical minerals would be central to the partnership. The two sides also signed nine other agreements and memoranda of understanding covering digital cooperation, health and entrepreneurship, as Brazil remains India’s largest trade partner in Latin America with bilateral trade expected to cross $20 billion in the next five years.
Lula, who is on an India visit for the AI Impact Summit, paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi before the talks and was accompanied by ministers and business leaders, reflecting the growing economic dimension of ties. External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said the discussions would give “new momentum” to bilateral relations, while Modi highlighted expanding defence cooperation and a stronger collective voice for the Global South. Brazilian companies such as Embraer, in partnership with Adani Group, are also exploring manufacturing in India. For non-Indian companies, the pact signals diversification of critical mineral supply chains away from concentrated sources, opening potential opportunities in mining, processing, clean energy and advanced manufacturing through partnerships linked to both Indian and Brazilian markets.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/india-brazil-critical-minerals-rare-earths-5944101
Editor’s Note: India and Brazil agreed to deepen cooperation in critical minerals and rare earths to strengthen resilient supply chains, vital for sectors like EVs, renewable energy, electronics, and defence. The partnership, reinforced by nine other agreements, highlights Brazil’s role as India’s largest Latin American trade partner and signals new opportunities in clean energy, mining, and advanced manufacturing.
India AI Impact Summit 2026 concludes with record global participation and major investment pledges
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 concluded on Saturday at Bharat Mandapam, with Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw briefing the media on the scale and outcomes of the five-day event. He said the summit drew unprecedented international participation, including over 20 Heads of Government, 59 ministers and representatives from 118 countries, along with more than 100 global AI leaders and over 500 experts. Vaishnaw said the quality of dialogue and broad endorsement of India’s approach to responsible and sovereign AI demonstrated growing global confidence in the country’s technological leadership.
The minister said infrastructure-related investment commitments linked to the summit have crossed $250 billion, with an additional $20 billion in deep-tech venture pledges, reflecting rising trust in India’s AI and semiconductor ecosystem. More than five lakh people attended the summit directly, while over 550 pre-summit events across 30 countries and hundreds of side events made it one of the largest multi-stakeholder AI engagements to date. Framing the outcomes within Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Viksit Bharat” by 2047, Vaishnaw said the summit marked a decisive step towards long-term technological capacity building. For non-Indian companies, the scale of participation and investment signals India’s emergence as a key hub for AI development and deployment, creating opportunities for partnerships in infrastructure, models, and applied AI solutions across global markets.
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2230952®=3&lang=2
Editor’s Note: The India AI Impact Summit 2026 concluded with record global participation, including leaders and experts from 118 countries, and showcased strong endorsement of India’s approach to responsible AI. The event generated over $250 billion in infrastructure commitments and $20 billion in deep-tech venture pledges, cementing India’s role as a key hub for AI and semiconductor innovation.
US tops Global AI Brain Race Report 2026; India placed sixth
The essayhumaniser.io–published Global AI Brain Race Report 2026 ranked the United States first, followed by China and Singapore, while India secured the sixth position. The study assessed more than 100 countries using a weighted framework that combined AI research and development, economic integration, infrastructure, talent readiness, governance, responsible AI, public opinion and academic strength. The US scored 82 out of 100, leading in AI R&D, economic integration and infrastructure. China ranked second with 59, supported by the world’s largest AI education base and strong research output, while Singapore placed third with 37, driven by high academic quality and strong talent readiness. South Korea and the United Kingdom took the fourth and fifth spots respectively.
India’s score of 32 was powered mainly by talent readiness but held back by weaker infrastructure and governance indicators, the report said, adding that countries integrating research, infrastructure, education and policy into a single ecosystem are most likely to dominate the AI leadership race. The lead researcher at essayhumaniser.io said the findings show that future influence in AI will depend on how well nations build end-to-end systems spanning innovation, regulation and adoption. For non-Indian companies, the rankings underline where AI ecosystems are most mature today and where emerging markets like India offer scope for long-term partnerships in talent, applied AI and infrastructure as governments seek to close gaps and align with global standards.
Editor’s Note: The Global AI Brain Race Report 2026 ranked the United States first, followed by China and Singapore, while India placed sixth with a score of 32, driven mainly by talent readiness but limited by infrastructure and governance. The study highlights that nations integrating research, infrastructure, education, and policy into unified ecosystems will lead future AI dominance, with India offering long-term partnership opportunities in talent, applied AI, and infrastructure.
AI’s share in India’s venture capital funding jumps to 12%, deep tech investment hits critical mass: Report
Investments in artificial intelligence and deep tech are gaining strong momentum in India, with AI’s share in venture capital funding rising to about 12 per cent from under 5 per cent in 2020, according to a report by the India Deep Tech Alliance. The study said AI startups emerged as the standout theme in 2025, reflecting growing investor confidence in technology-driven innovation and real-world applications across sectors such as enterprise software, healthcare, financial services, cybersecurity and industrial solutions. In 2025 alone, AI firms attracted 188 investments worth about $1.2 billion, marking a 58 per cent year-on-year rise in funding value.
The report added that deep tech investment in India has reached a critical mass, with nearly $28 billion deployed across more than 2,100 deals since 2016. Deep tech now accounts for around 15 per cent of total private equity and venture capital activity, up from just 4 per cent a decade ago. While overall VC funding in India remained steady at about $10 billion in 2025, technology-led sectors sharply outperformed, signalling a shift in investor priorities toward AI and advanced technologies. For non-Indian companies, the trend highlights India’s growing role as a hub for AI innovation and deployment, offering opportunities for partnerships, acquisitions and market entry as global firms look to tap into its expanding startup ecosystem and skilled talent base.
Editor’s Note: AI and deep tech investments in India are surging, with AI’s share of venture capital rising to 12% in 2025 and startups attracting $1.2 billion across 188 deals. Overall deep tech funding has reached $28 billion since 2016, now accounting for 15% of private equity and VC activity, underscoring India’s growing role as a hub for advanced technologies and global partnerships.