KOLKATA: The city is likely to see the world’s third-largest chip maker and Nasdaq-listed GlobalFoundries (GF) set up a state-of-the-art semiconductor fab, a possibility that was discussed during a meeting between US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.
Early reports suggest that the GF plant is likely to be named GF Kolkata Power Centre.
According to the agency’s report, both Biden and Modi lauded their joint efforts to promote a resilient, secure and sustainable semiconductor supply chain, including strengthening mutually beneficial collaboration in semiconductor manufacturing research and development, including through the creation of the Kolkata facility.
Sources in the state IT department told TOI that last year, Webel had approached representatives of GlobalFoundries in Kolkata and requested them to explore a knowledge partnership for upskilling students and faculty and to collaborate on setting up a semiconductor design lab.
“US executives of GlobalFoundries visited Webel in October and November last year. They held a number of conferences, symposiums and workshops at Calcutta University and other educational institutions. They also visited several departments and were briefed on Webel’s efforts in running various research centres,” the sources said.
Meanwhile, GF had acquired Tagore Tech in Kolkata last year. “After that, they visited Kolkata again to look for space to expand their facilities. They were shown a property in IT Park and liked it. In the ensuing interaction, they expressed their desire to make Kolkata one of their global competence centres,” the official said.
In an interview, India’s IT minister, Babul Supriyo, said it was coincidence that his ministry officials were discussing semiconductors last week. “Kolkata has the right infrastructure to set up such a unit,” he said.
Semiconductors are mainly used in various electronic devices for national security, new generation communications, and pollution-free environment, and are also widely used in artificial intelligence.
(With input from relevant agencies)
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