The US-based maker of chip equipment is teaming up with Indian suppliers to speed up the process of commercialization in the country.

“Applied Materials will collaborate with semiconductor supplier organizations with the intent to reduce the time to commercialization and develop a sustainable semiconductor ecosystem in India,” says Suraj Rengarajan, managing director, Applied Materials India.

The firm revealed in the past that it would establish a research and development facility in Bengaluru with a total investment of $400 million over four years to develop and commercialize technologies for semiconductor production equipment.

The engineering hub will bring together technologists, domestic and international suppliers, and academic and research institutions to accelerate the development of semiconductor equipment sub-systems and components.

Suppliers will have access to advanced equipment and processes, as well as opportunities to develop equipment.

“We estimate that in its first five years of operation, the centre can create at least 500 new advanced engineering jobs along with 2,500 jobs in the manufacturing ecosystem,” Rengarajan adds.

Design, product development, IT, advanced analytics, software, factory automation and computer-aided engineering are some of the business units supported by the team in India.

Materials and chemistry solutions to address complex materials engineering challenges are addressed by the company's research and development technologists at the IIT Bombay campus.

“It is also exploring engagement with IISc in photonics and quantum materials. Through this collaboration, it aims to connect students to highly trained tech professionals and help them become industry-ready,” says Rengarajan.

The firm has incorporated AI into some of its process tools, such as defect inspection and review tools, and into its support offerings for tool calibration and process optimization, in an effort to boost effectiveness and uncover insights.

“AI is also used in manufacturing, operations and logistics to enhance tracking and reliability and to optimize warehouse operations. Functions such as human resources and finance also utilize AI to extract valuable insights from organizational data,” Rengarajan adds.