India is stepping forward to become a hub for semiconductor chips. Major strides in this sector are being taken by the government to make the country self-reliant. Semiconductors are key components of electronics that control the flow of electrical current within a device. The basic component of a semiconductor chip is a silicon chip. It is etched with billions of tiny transistors forming patterns. They control the flow of electricity according to various computational instructions. Let us understand properly the role of semiconductor industry:
3D Printing
3D printing is now fast becoming a serious alternative to produce custom-made semiconductors in small batches. This technology has gained greater relevance owing to the shortage that most recently affected the industry. The shortage has been reflected across almost all the industries, with the most affected among them being automotive and consumer electronics. Application of 3D printing in semiconductors would definitely be one of the best ways to consider this problem.
Solar Cells
These semiconductors are innovative technologies for harvesting and using renewable energy from the sun. Inherent properties of silicon make it suitable for converting all types of light into electricity in the most efficient way. Hence, you can find silicon solar cells on rooftops, in large solar energy-sourced farmlands, and even portable chargers. Mature advancements in semiconductor technologies herald a new dawn for increased efficiency and affordability in using solar energy systems vis-a-vis fossil fuels. As research and development continue, semiconductors tend to sharpen their potential in solar energy harvesting and utilization.
Digitization
Similar to every other industry, even digital transformation impacts the semiconductor industry. Semiconductor manufacturers will prominently see the influence in their processes. Those which are extremely complex and highly time-consuming—from R&D to wafer processing, assembling, testing, and packing. Digital advancements can improve each of these processes in terms of quality and quantity. With Industry 4.0 emerging as the new standard for digital businesses, the industry compels semiconductor manufacturers to remain active and innovative. AI/ML, IoT, Edge and AR/VR can also provide new ways of enhancing performance, cutting costs and increasing reliability.
IoT
Although there will be numerous good examples of IoE, such as home security systems, wearables, and smart factory robots, the list doesn’t end there. Furthermore, biometric scanners and autonomous devices used in agriculture also showcase the transformative potential of IoE technologies. It is evidenced that IoE has always been about a new digital revolution itself. The semiconductor industry will transport into an era with heavy digital adoption by all industries. The great R&D efforts pushed on the semi-conductors are towards making every device smarter that could, through its effect on every user, make him or her a better performer.
Electronics Industry
As conduits of electrical phase transitions in a sentence for the broadest electronic devices, semiconductors enable all functions related to data processing or information manipulation. From transistors in laptops to memory chips in smartphones, semiconductors are the driving forces between these electronic products’ functioning and evolution.
There is indeed a heavy role of semiconductor industry. It is looking for proactive measures to combat the severe impact of the semiconductor shortage. In India, this is entirely new momentum that has just begun. Therefore, encouraging industry players in India to adopt advanced technologies from the onset and will provide them with a competitive advantage over established global competitors.
