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The foundation stone was laid for a silicon carbide semiconductor production plant approved under the India Semiconductor Mission in Bhubaneswar on Saturday (November 1, 2025). The project entails an investment of ₹2,067 crore. SiCSem Private Limited, a subsidiary of Archean Chemical Industries Limited, will set up the facility. The integrated facility, expected to be operational by 2027-28, will have the capacity to process 60,000 SiC (silicon carbide) wafers annually, and package approximately 96 million units, according to the company. These high-performance semiconductor components will play a crucial role in strengthening the country’s supply chain for critical sectors, including electric vehicles, railways, data centres, renewable energy, smart grid systems, and industrial automotives, it said. The project is expected to create over 1,000 direct jobs, and several thousand indirect employment opportunities. “This will position Odisha as a key hub for semiconductor and electronics manufacturing. The Centre’s guidance and the India Semiconductor Mission’s initiatives have enabled the State to attract world-class investment, cutting-edge technology, and high-value employment opportunities,” Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said at the event. Union Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw participated in the foundation laying ceremony. “Our dream of bringing advanced technology to Odisha is coming true today, and our special focus is on enabling a seamless integration of industry and academia,” Mr. Vaishnaw said. The company is also establishing a ₹64 crore Research and Innovation Centre at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar. The Union Minister has approved ₹5 crore from his Member of Parliament Local Area Development fund for a ‘Namo Semiconductor Laboratory’ at the institute. These initiatives, along with the announcement of a Power Electronics Hub at IIT Bhubaneswar, will nurture innovation, research, and skill development in the State, Mr. Vaishnaw said.
