New Delhi: Tata Electronics Private Limited and Merck, a leading science and technology company, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday for a strategic collaboration to jointly develop capabilities in semiconductor materials, semiconductor fabrication infrastructure, and specialty chemical and gas distribution in India.

According to an official release, Merck will provide its full suite of products and services, including high-purity electronic materials, advanced gas and chemical delivery systems, turnkey fab infrastructure services, and its AI-powered Material Intelligence™ solutions, for Tata Electronics’ upcoming Fab in Dholera, Gujarat.

As part of this partnership, Merck will also share best practices in safety and manufacturing excellence and provide access to platforms such as Athinia®, a secure data analytics tool, to enable collaboration on relevant information across the semiconductor industry. Additionally, the partnership includes plans for localized warehousing, raw material supply chain development, talent cultivation, and the establishment of industry processes and standards in India.

Dr. Randhir Thakur, CEO and MD of Tata Electronics, said, “By leveraging Merck’s decades of global experience in chemical safety, process optimisation, and digital tools, we will build a resilient ecosystem and accelerate the timely execution of our Fab in Dholera, Gujarat. Together, we aim to set new benchmarks in quality, safety, and innovation for the global semiconductor industry.”

The company added that the MoU aligns with the goals of the India Semiconductor Mission and highlights Tata Electronics and Merck as early movers in enabling indigenous semiconductor capabilities. Tata Electronics is building India’s first Fab in Dholera, Gujarat, with a total investment of ₹91,000 crore (~US$11 billion). The facility will manufacture semiconductor chips for applications in automotive, mobile devices, artificial intelligence (AI), and other key sectors to serve global customers.

This partnership will support Tata Electronics’ Fab while catalysing the broader industry ecosystem—spanning suppliers, talent, and technology development—strengthening India’s position in the global semiconductor value chain, the release said. DeshGujarat