The strategic collaboration between India and Germany in the vital fields of semiconductors and microelectronics was greatly reinforced by the 7th edition of the Fraunhofer Innovation and Technology Platform (FIT) 2025, which was hosted in New Delhi.
In order to promote cooperation in semiconductor innovation and technology development, this premier Indo-German forum, which was organized by the Fraunhofer Society, Europe’s largest applied research organization, and sponsored by India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), brought together senior government officials, researchers, academics, and industry leaders from both nations.
The release of a knowledge paper that Fraunhofer and the EPIC Foundation co-authored was a major highlight of the day-long event. A cooperative plan centered on innovation, skill development, and technology advancement for the semiconductor industry is presented in this study.
With the help of EPIC’s policy and ecosystem knowledge and Fraunhofer’s lab-to-market approach, it outlines practical methods for co-developing skills in the areas of sensors, packaging, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), CMOS chip design, power electronics, and workforce development.
Fraunhofer’s most recent applied R&D in fields that are closely related to India’s technology goals, including CMOS chip design, sensor systems, MEMS, advanced packaging, and system dependability, was on display at the FIT 2025 platform. Scalable technologies and partnership potential were showcased by the German team, which included more than a dozen experts from several Fraunhofer institutes.
In his keynote address, Professor Albert Heuberger, Executive Director of Fraunhofer IIS and Chairman of the Research Fab Microelectronics Germany (FMD), emphasized the fundamental nature of microelectronics technology and the goal of bridging academic research with industry applications to support India’s aspirational semiconductor mission.
Anandi Iyer, director of Fraunhofer India, emphasized the company’s long-standing faith in India’s capacity for growth, pointing out that over 70 million euros had been made in contract research over the past 18 years, with a significant amount coming from innovation adoption by medium-sized businesses. In order to promote inclusivity and economic development, the partnership is forming revolutionary alliances.
Dr. Philipp Ackermann, Germany’s ambassador to India, and Shri Suman Bery, the vice chairperson of NITI Aayog, gave speeches during the farewell session. Industry leaders and Fraunhofer experts participated in panel discussions that focused on technology transfer, commercialization, and skill development.
With India providing a fast expanding market, youthful talent, and production capacities, and Germany giving its extensive R&D knowledge, precision engineering, and established technology transfer models, the event emphasized the significance of technology transfer and cooperative industrial collaboration. Particular prospects include building training facilities to train production staff in cutting-edge manufacturing and quality control, as well as cooperatively producing MEMS to meet regional market demands like industrial automation and environmental monitoring.
A crucial framework for assisting India in converting semiconductor and MEMS ideas into commercial goods was Fraunhofer’s “Lab to Fab” concept. The establishment of technology-neutral prototyping facilities for startups and small enterprises, organized intellectual property transfer, and market validation initiatives supported by German partners’ worldwide certification experience are some of the suggested support mechanisms for India.
Emerging technologies like optoelectronics and terahertz were found to be interesting areas for Indo-German cooperation, and useful demonstration projects were suggested in industries like security screening and pharmaceutical inspection. The importance of collaborative qualification programs and innovation laboratories that link end users, industry, and research is highlighted by the necessity of skills development in these areas.
In order to build robust semiconductor capabilities in India, the 7th FIT 2025 Platform showcased a thorough, multifaceted Indo-German semiconductor collaboration that leverages Germany’s advanced technology leadership and research ecosystem. This collaboration includes applied research, joint development, technology transfer, manufacturing, and human capital development.
This partnership has the potential to expedite India’s semiconductor aspirations and promote ideas that are relevant to the global market.
