MOU ON SEMICONDUCTOR (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Recently, India and the European Union inked a Memorandum of Understanding on semiconductors, paving the way for collaboration in this critical technology sector ahead of the EU-India Trade and Technology Council meeting.

Semiconductor 

• About: Semiconductors are materials with electrical conductivity between that of conductors and insulators. silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge).
• Relation with temperature: -Resistance decreases with increasing temperature and vice-versa.
• Types: - Intrinsic semiconductors are pure semiconductors, while extrinsic are doped with impurities to enhance conductivity.
• Reason for vast applications: -The electrical conductivity of a semiconductor device can be controlled over a wide range. Through a process known as doping, the properties of these materials are modified to make them exhibit both conductive and non-conductive behavior as needed. 
• Examples: Silicon, Germanium, and Gallium arsenide.

India’s Status in Semiconductor 

• This signifies India’s growing emphasis on internal semiconductor production, as well as its desire to establish a formidable presence in the global semiconductor supply chains.
• India has become the hub for semiconductor design with nearly 2,000 chips being designed per year.
• Expected Consumption: India's own consumption of semiconductors is projected to exceed $80 billion by 2026 and $110 billion by 2030.
• Employment potential: Generate 6 lakh employment opportunities by 2030; an exceptional semiconductor design talent pool making up to 20% of the world’s semiconductor design engineers. 
• SEMICONINDIA 2023: Organized by the India Semiconductor Mission in collaboration with industry and industry associations.