By Toby Sterling EINDHOVEN, Netherlands, March 4 (Reuters) - A trade delegation from India visited the Dutch semiconductor hub of Eindhoven on Wednesday to discuss investment opportunities as New
India Eyes Dutch Collaboration to Fuel Domestic Semiconductor Growth
India and the Netherlands Explore Semiconductor Industry Partnerships
By Toby Sterling
Indian Delegation Visits Eindhoven for Investment Talks
EINDHOVEN, Netherlands, March 4 (Reuters) - A trade delegation from India visited the Dutch semiconductor hub of Eindhoven on Wednesday to discuss investment opportunities as New Delhi accelerates its efforts to build a domestic chip industry.
India's Ambitious Semiconductor Plans
India has pledged billions of dollars in subsidies to attract semiconductor fabrication plants and related manufacturing, with eight projects underway including a $14 billion Tata Electronics facility in Gujarat.
Dutch Firms Seek New Markets Amid Global Tensions
Meanwhile, Dutch semiconductor firms are seeking new markets and geographical diversification amid export controls and trade restrictions linked to U.S.-China technology rivalry.
Opportunities for Dutch Equipment Exports
“It’s clear there are opportunities for Dutch firms, in the first place for equipment exports,” and later as a base for manufacturing, given India’s large engineering workforce, said Michiel Smit of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
India as a "China-plus-one" Manufacturing Base
Manish Hooda, technology director at the India Semiconductor Mission said Dutch firms pursuing a “China-plus-one” manufacturing strategy should consider India as their production base outside China.
“We are quite open if they are interested in setting up operations in India,” Hooda said.
The Eindhoven Region: A Semiconductor Powerhouse
The Eindhoven region is home to leading chip equipment maker ASML and dozens of its top suppliers. Chipmaker NXP Semiconductors is also headquartered there.
ASML Expands Presence in India
ASML disclosed last week it plans to open a support office in India. A spokesperson declined to give further details.
India's Subsidy Programs and Future Plans
India’s subsidy program launched in 2021 covered up to 50% of project costs, with state governments offering an additional 20% to 25%, Hooda said. A second program slated for approval March 30 could be even larger, he added.
Growing India-Netherlands Tech Ties
Interest from Dutch Firms
Smit said about 50 to 60 Dutch firms had requested meetings with the Indian delegation.
Indian Engineers in the Netherlands
Indian engineers already form a significant part of the Dutch tech workforce. According to statistics agency CBS, the number of Indians in the Netherlands tripled to 89,000 in 2024 from 2014, with more than 10,000 living in the Eindhoven region.
Strategic Partnership on the Horizon
The two countries hope to announce a strategic partnership during a planned visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this year.
(Reporting by Toby Sterling;Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
