Tata Electronics and Sumitomo Chemical sign MoU for materials supply to the Dholera fab
Sumitomo Chemical will explore supplying photoresists and high-purity chemicals to Tata Electronics’ upcoming Dholera fab, and Tata will support Sumitomo in exploring local manufacture of these materials in India.
Sep 18, 20263 min read
Photo: Tata Electronics and Sumitomo Chemical at the MoU signing (Tata Electronics)
Tata Electronics and Sumitomo Chemical, one of Japan's largest chemical companies supplying semiconductor materials worldwide, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen India's semiconductor supply chain. The companies say the collaboration will diversify supply and make high-quality materials available in line with India's goal of becoming a leader in semiconductor manufacturing.
What the MoU covers
Supply to Dholera: the two companies will explore an arrangement in which Sumitomo supplies semiconductor materials to Tata Electronics' upcoming fab in Dholera, Gujarat. These include photoresists, functional chemicals, and high-purity chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide, isopropyl alcohol, ammonia water and sulfuric acid.
Making materials in India: Tata Electronics will support Sumitomo Chemical in exploring the manufacture of semiconductor materials and high-purity chemicals in India.
What they said
"We are excited to partner with Sumitomo Chemical to strengthen the supply chain of high-quality materials for our upcoming semiconductor Fab in Dholera," said Dr. Randhir Thakur, CEO & MD, Tata Electronics. "India and Japan have a very close relationship and are deepening cooperation in the semiconductor sector, combining Japan's technological expertise with India's growing manufacturing capabilities to strengthen supply chains and economic security, advance research initiatives and skill development, and build private-sector alliances for India's semiconductor sector. Our alliance with Sumitomo Chemical is fully aligned with the goals of both countries."
Satoshi Honda, Managing Executive Officer, Sumitomo Chemical, said: "We are pleased to have entered into this MoU with Tata Electronics to contribute to a stable supply of semiconductor materials and to the strengthening of India's semiconductor supply chain. Semiconductors are essential to the advancement of digital society and industrial competitiveness. Their stable and sustainable supply depends on the continuous availability of high-performance, high-quality, and reliable materials under rigorous quality control."
The Dholera fab
Tata Electronics is building India's first commercial 12-inch (300 mm) semiconductor fab in Dholera, with a planned investment of US$11 billion. The facility will make chips for automotive, mobile devices, artificial intelligence and other applications, for customers worldwide.
Tata's alliance with Taiwan's PSMC gives it access to a broad portfolio of semiconductor technologies spanning 28 nm to 110 nm nodes. According to Tata Electronics, construction of the fab is progressing rapidly, and the Sumitomo partnership is an important step in building out the domestic ecosystem across materials, equipment, and process and design technologies.
