On 16‑17 May 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Netherlands and signed 17 agreements covering semiconductors, critical minerals, defence, migration and renewable energy. The most news‑worthy outcome was a Memorandum of Understanding between ASML and Tata Electronics to set up a 300 mm (12‑inch) semiconductor fabrication plant in Dholera, Gujarat. This marks a decisive step in India’s quest to build a domestic chip ecosystem.
Key Developments
- MoU between Tata Electronics and ASML for a 300 mm fab in Dholera.
- India and the Netherlands elevated ties to a Strategic Partnership with a five‑year roadmap (2026‑30).
- Memorandum of Cooperation linking Eindhoven University of Technology, University of Twente and six Indian institutes (IISc Bangalore, IIT‑Bombay, IIT‑Delhi, IIT‑Gandhinagar, IIT‑Guwahati, IIT‑Madras) to create a "brain bridge" for semiconductor research.
- Approval of 12 chip plants under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), including a Rs 3,068 crore GaN‑based plant for Mini/Micro‑LED modules.
- Joint defence and migration pacts to coordinate tri‑service cooperation and combat irregular migration.
Important Technical Facts
- EUV lithography prints patterns by projecting light through a mask onto a photosensitive silicon wafer; the wafer is then shifted for the next exposure.
- The 13.5 nm wavelength is close to the x‑ray range, allowing much finer feature sizes than older deep‑ultraviolet tools.
- Moore’s Law continues be