₹3,406 CRORE SICS EM SEMICONDUCTOR PROJECT CLEARED FOR BHUBANESWAR

Odisha has received another major semiconductor boost with approval for SiCSem Private Limited to establish a ₹3,406.25 crore silicon-carbide semiconductor facility at Info Valley-II near Bhubaneswar. The project was cleared by the Unit Approval Committee of the Falta Special Economic Zone under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and is expected to manufacture silicon-carbide power semiconductor devices including diodes and MOSFETs. The facility is projected to create around 1,270 jobs and is expected to have a significant export orientation, with projected exports of approximately ₹7,043 crore over five years. The approval is important because it takes Odisha’s semiconductor strategy another step toward a complete ecosystem. RIR Power Electronics has already been developing a silicon-carbide facility, while other companies have proposed advanced packaging, memory-module manufacturing and OSAT facilities. SiCSem’s project adds another layer by combining manufacturing with research and development. Silicon-carbide technology has become strategically important because of its applications in electric vehicles, renewable-energy converters, industrial drives, fast chargers and high-voltage power systems. As India expands electric mobility and renewable-energy capacity, demand for efficient power electronics is expected to increase. A domestic silicon-carbide manufacturing base could therefore support multiple industries simultaneously. The project’s export potential also gives Odisha a possible route into global semiconductor supply chains rather than limiting the state to serving India’s domestic market. For an industrial state with major ports at Paradip and Dhamra, export-oriented electronics manufacturing could complement the traditional bulk-cargo economy. The challenge will be ensuring that the supporting ecosystem develops at the same pace. Semiconductor facilities require specialised chemicals, gases, equipment, packaging, testing, clean-room services and highly trained workers. The presence of multiple projects could create sufficient demand to support those ancillary industries. Odisha’s educational institutions and engineering workforce could also benefit if companies establish training and research partnerships. The project is therefore relevant not simply because of its ₹3,406 crore investment but because it contributes to the creation of a technology cluster around Bhubaneswar. If the projects announced by RIR, SiCSem and other semiconductor companies progress according to schedule, Odisha could become one of India’s emerging centres for silicon-carbide and advanced semiconductor manufacturing.