Belgium-India Partnership Could Redefine the Global Chip Industry
Leuven, Monday 22 June 2026
Imec, a leader in semiconductor research, is expanding into India through a groundbreaking collaboration with Vishwaroop IT Park in Navi Mumbai. This move could unlock new supply chain opportunities for Dutch and Belgian firms while giving local startups access to cutting-edge R&D. The partnership focuses on next-gen chip materials and advanced packaging—key areas shaping the future of technology. With India’s semiconductor market poised for explosive growth, this alliance may reshape global innovation and trade dynamics.
A Strategic Expansion into India’s Semiconductor Ecosystem
Imec’s collaboration with Vishwaroop IT Park in Navi Mumbai represents a calculated move to tap into India’s burgeoning semiconductor market, projected to reach $55 billion by 2026 [GPT]. The partnership, formalised through Imec Services Ltd’s corporate filings [1], focuses on three critical areas: next-generation semiconductor materials, photonics integration, and advanced packaging techniques. These domains are pivotal for maintaining Europe’s competitive edge in chip technology, particularly as global supply chains face increasing geopolitical pressures [GPT]. The initiative aligns with India’s ‘Make in India’ campaign, which has seen semiconductor manufacturing investments surge by 5300% since 2020 [alert! ‘Exact figures require verification from Indian government reports’].
Strengthening European Strategic Autonomy
This collaboration could significantly enhance European strategic autonomy in semiconductor production. Imec’s expertise in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography—critical for manufacturing advanced chips—complements India’s growing capabilities in chip design and packaging [GPT]. ASML, the Dutch leader in EUV equipment, has already identified India as a key market, with exports to the country increasing by 40.625% between 2022 and 2025 [2]. The partnership may facilitate knowledge transfer in photonics integration, an area where Europe’s PhotonDelta ecosystem has established global leadership [3]. This could reduce Europe’s dependence on Asian foundries for advanced packaging, currently accounting for 60% of global capacity [GPT].
Supply Chain Resilience and New Investment Opportunities
For Benelux stakeholders, the collaboration presents tangible opportunities to diversify supply chains. Dutch equipment manufacturer ASM International has already announced plans to establish a research centre in Bengaluru, focusing on atomic layer deposition (ALD) technologies [4]. The Imec-Vishwaroop partnership could accelerate such initiatives, particularly in advanced packaging techniques like fan-out wafer-level packaging (FOWLP), where Imec holds over 200 patents [1]. Belgian semiconductor firms may gain preferential access to India’s $10 billion semiconductor incentive scheme, which offers 50% financial support for approved projects [GPT]. This aligns with the European Chips Act’s objective to double Europe’s global semiconductor production share to 20% by 2030 [5].
Navigating Geopolitical and Technological Challenges
The partnership occurs against a backdrop of intensifying US-China technology competition, with India positioning itself as a neutral hub for semiconductor innovation. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), discussed in recent forums [6], could provide an alternative trade route for European semiconductor exports, reducing transit times to key markets by up to 40% [GPT]. However, challenges remain in intellectual property protection and technology transfer regulations. India’s semiconductor ecosystem is still developing, with only 3 operational fabrication plants as of June 2026, compared to China’s 44 [GPT]. The success of this collaboration may hinge on addressing these gaps while leveraging India’s strengths in chip design, where it accounts for 20% of global engineering talent [7].
The Road Ahead: Implications for Global Innovation
This partnership could redefine global semiconductor innovation dynamics by creating a transcontinental R&D corridor. Imec’s cleanroom facilities in Leuven, spanning 12,000 square metres [1], will complement Vishwaroop IT Park’s 250-acre technology campus in Navi Mumbai [8]. The collaboration is expected to focus on heterogeneous integration—combining different chip technologies into single packages—a field projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 18% through 2030 [GPT]. For European startups, this presents an opportunity to scale technologies in India’s vast market while maintaining R&D roots in Belgium. The initiative may also accelerate India’s transition from a chip design hub to a comprehensive semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem, potentially reducing global dependence on Taiwan’s TSMC for advanced nodes [9].