Applied Materials India Private Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Tamil Nadu to establish an advanced AI-enabled Center of Excellence (CoE) in Chennai, focusing on semiconductor manufacturing and equipment.
The CoE aims to collaborate with local universities and industry partners to strengthen Tamil Nadu’s semiconductor ecosystem and develop a skilled talent pool to support the growth of the chip industry. As part of this initiative, Applied Materials plans to expand its workforce in the state to over 500 technical positions in the coming years.
The MOU was signed in San Francisco in the presence of Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, and Dr. Prabu Raja, President of the Semiconductor Products Group at Applied Materials, Inc. Chief Minister Stalin emphasized that investments in advanced electronics and semiconductors are crucial for achieving Tamil Nadu’s goal of becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2030, aiming to position the state as the most advanced knowledge and innovation hub in South Asia.
Dr. Prabu Raja highlighted Tamil Nadu’s status as one of India’s most industrialized states, with a thriving manufacturing sector and a strong scientific talent pool. He expressed enthusiasm for expanding Applied Materials’ presence in Chennai and collaborating with the government to integrate AI capabilities and advanced analytics into the local semiconductor manufacturing and equipment ecosystem.
This initiative is expected to bolster Tamil Nadu’s semiconductor industry by fostering a research-oriented culture, industry partnerships, and a skilled workforce, thereby contributing to the state’s economic growth and technological advancement.
