Tata Electronics Collaborates with Merck Electronics for Semiconductor Material Supply in Gujarat

Tata Electronics has entered into a significant agreement with Merck Electronics to source a comprehensive range of products and services for its upcoming semiconductor facility in Dholera, Gujarat. This collaboration was formalised at Semicon India 2025, with Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw present. The partnership marks a pioneering effort between a global materials provider and an Indian semiconductor manufacturer.

Merck Electronics will supply Tata Electronics with high-purity electronic materials, advanced gas and chemical delivery systems, and turnkey fab infrastructure services. Additionally, Merck's Material Intelligence solutions, powered by AI, will be utilised for the new Fab in Dholera. The partnership also includes sharing best practices in safety and manufacturing excellence.

Strategic Collaboration for Semiconductor Development

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) outlines a strategic collaboration to enhance semiconductor materials capabilities and infrastructure in India. This includes the distribution of speciality chemicals and gases. Merck will also provide access to platforms like Athinia, facilitating secure data analytics and collaboration across the semiconductor industry.

Plans are underway to establish local warehousing and develop a raw material supply chain. The partnership aims to cultivate talent and set industry processes and standards within India. By leveraging Merck's extensive experience in chemical safety and process optimisation, Tata Electronics aims to build a robust ecosystem for its Fab project.

Investment in India's Semiconductor Ecosystem

Tata Electronics is investing Rs 91,000 crore (approximately USD 11 billion) in India's first Fab facility at Dholera. This plant will produce semiconductor chips for various applications, including automotive, mobile devices, and artificial intelligence. The goal is to serve customers globally while supporting India's semiconductor ambitions.

Randhir Thakur, CEO of Tata Electronics, emphasised the importance of Merck's global expertise in building a resilient ecosystem. "By leveraging Merck's decades of global experience in chemical safety, process optimisation, and digital tools, we will build a resilient ecosystem and accelerate the timely execution of our Fab in Dholera, Gujarat," he stated.

Advancing Indigenous Semiconductor Solutions

In addition to the partnership with Merck, Tata Electronics has signed an MoU with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC). This agreement focuses on advancing indigenous electronics and semiconductor solutions, including developing the Design IP ecosystem in India.

The collaboration with C-DAC aims to explore opportunities for developing the semiconductor design and IP ecosystem using Tata Electronics' Fab technology portfolio. Both organisations will work towards enabling Fab, OSAT, and design service solutions from Tata Electronics for India's semiconductor ecosystem.

Kai Beckmann, Member of the Executive Board of Merck and CEO Electronics, highlighted the collaboration's alignment with their strategy: "The collaboration with Tata Electronics reflects our long-standing strategy: to be a trusted partner in key growth markets, enabling scale through safety, precision, and innovation."

With inputs from PTI