Chennai: Leading institutions from India and Taiwan have signed a tripartite agreement to promote advanced research, industry collaboration, and talent development in the semiconductor sector.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Chennai Institute of Technology (CIT) in Tamil Nadu, National Formosa University (NFU) of Taiwan, and Taiwan-based Air Gas Electronic Materials Enterprise Co., Ltd. (AGEM).
The partnership aims to bridge academia and industry while creating new opportunities for research scholars in the rapidly growing semiconductor field.
The collaboration comes at a time when India is actively expanding its presence in the global semiconductor value chain. Taiwan remains the undisputed leader in chip manufacturing, accounting for nearly 60 per cent of global semiconductor production and more than 90 per cent of the world’s most advanced chips.
Under the agreement, doctoral students will benefit from joint academic supervision by CIT and NFU while receiving industrial guidance and research support from AGEM. The initiative is designed to encourage cutting-edge research, facilitate international academic exchanges, and provide students with direct exposure to industry practices.
Officials said the program will help develop highly skilled researchers capable of contributing to the evolving semiconductor ecosystem while strengthening long-term cooperation between academic institutions and industry partners in both countries.
The signing ceremony, held in Chennai, was attended by senior representatives from India and Taiwan, including Stephen Hsu, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in Chennai; Dr. Lung-Jieh Yang, Director of the Science and Technology Division at TECC in New Delhi; Dr. Shou-Yin Yang, Vice President for International Affairs at NFU; and Desu Naveen Kumar Reddy of AGEM, along with senior officials from CIT.
Speaking at the event, Director General Stephen Hsu described the agreement as the first academia-industry collaboration focused on semiconductor research between Taiwan and southern India. He highlighted the role of students in driving innovation and fostering stronger ties between the two economies, calling them “ambassadors of innovation” for the future.
A key component of the partnership is AGEM’s expertise in advanced gas purification technologies, which are essential for semiconductor manufacturing.
Chip fabrication processes require ultra-high purity gases, where even microscopic levels of contamination can impact production quality, device performance, and manufacturing efficiency.
With its specialized purification systems and experience in producing semiconductor-grade gases, AGEM is expected to provide valuable industrial insight and technical support to research projects undertaken through the collaboration.
The partnership is expected to boost research capabilities, encourage knowledge sharing, and contribute to the development of a skilled workforce that can support the future growth of the semiconductor industry in both India and Taiwan.
