/images/ppid_59c68470-image-178292252992932587.webp)
/images/ppid_59c68470-image-178265002518691276.webp)
What is the story about?
Artificial intelligence is driving a fresh wave of deep-tech innovation in India, with semiconductor startups increasingly emerging as potential partners for global technology companies, according to Audrey Charles, President of Lam Capital.
Speaking exclusively to CNBC-TV18, Charles said India is beginning to feature more prominently in the global semiconductor innovation landscape, as startups tackle complex engineering challenges in areas such as advanced packaging, robotics and semiconductor manufacturing.
"I've never seen a time when there's been such a surge in innovation in deep tech, and that's a global statement, including India," she said.
Her comments come as governments and companies worldwide ramp up investments in semiconductor manufacturing and AI infrastructure, creating new opportunities for startups developing specialised hardware and manufacturing technologies.
Charles said Lam Capital, the venture investment arm of Lam Research, is seeing greater geographical diversity in the startups it evaluates. This year, one of the finalists in its global venture competition was India's Neufron, marking the first time an Indian company reached the final stage of the programme.
"We're seeing increased activity in India as well," she said.
Lam Capital recently received 180 applications for its venture competition, with 10 finalists representing six countries. Charles said the breadth of applicants reflects how semiconductor innovation is no longer concentrated in a handful of established technology hubs.
The company is primarily looking to back startups solving difficult industry problems that could shape semiconductor manufacturing over the next five to ten years. Areas of interest include semiconductor process and equipment technologies, robotics, photonics, autonomous manufacturing and software that improves chip production efficiency.
Charles said AI is accelerating demand for these technologies because chipmakers are under pressure to expand manufacturing capacity while improving productivity and yields.
One of Lam Capital's priorities is the development of the "fab of the future"—highly automated semiconductor manufacturing facilities that rely more heavily on artificial intelligence and robotics.
She pointed to Lam Research's collaborative robot, Dextro, as an example of how automation is beginning to transform semiconductor manufacturing. The robot is designed to perform precision tasks on manufacturing equipment, improving consistency while potentially helping fabs address labour shortages over time.
Charles said partnerships with startups remain central to Lam Capital's investment strategy because breakthrough innovation increasingly comes from a broader ecosystem rather than a single company.
"No one company is going to have all the answers," she said. "Lam Capital is really a way for us to tap into the external ecosystem, source disruptive technologies, invest in the future of Lam, and carry that forward."
She also highlighted the importance of building stronger deep-tech ecosystems through collaboration between industry, academia, investors and government-backed organisations. Lam Capital recently joined the India Deep Tech Alliance, which she said provides startups with access to industry expertise and global networks while helping larger companies identify emerging technologies.
Lam Research has separately committed more than $1 billion in investments in India under a memorandum of understanding with the Karnataka government. Charles said Lam Capital's approach in India mirrors its global strategy: identifying disruptive technologies that could become commercially important over the next decade and building long-term partnerships with entrepreneurs.
Looking ahead, she expects AI to remain the biggest driver of semiconductor innovation, creating opportunities for startups developing technologies that improve manufacturing intelligence, automation and next-generation chip production.
"The AI demand is driving an incredible pace of innovation," Charles said. "We really believe that innovation will come from a stronger ecosystem."
Speaking exclusively to CNBC-TV18, Charles said India is beginning to feature more prominently in the global semiconductor innovation landscape, as startups tackle complex engineering challenges in areas such as advanced packaging, robotics and semiconductor manufacturing.
"I've never seen a time when there's been such a surge in innovation in deep tech, and that's a global statement, including India," she said.
Her comments come as governments and companies worldwide ramp up investments in semiconductor manufacturing and AI infrastructure, creating new opportunities for startups developing specialised hardware and manufacturing technologies.
Charles said Lam Capital, the venture investment arm of Lam Research, is seeing greater geographical diversity in the startups it evaluates. This year, one of the finalists in its global venture competition was India's Neufron, marking the first time an Indian company reached the final stage of the programme.
"We're seeing increased activity in India as well," she said.
Lam Capital recently received 180 applications for its venture competition, with 10 finalists representing six countries. Charles said the breadth of applicants reflects how semiconductor innovation is no longer concentrated in a handful of established technology hubs.
The company is primarily looking to back startups solving difficult industry problems that could shape semiconductor manufacturing over the next five to ten years. Areas of interest include semiconductor process and equipment technologies, robotics, photonics, autonomous manufacturing and software that improves chip production efficiency.
Charles said AI is accelerating demand for these technologies because chipmakers are under pressure to expand manufacturing capacity while improving productivity and yields.
One of Lam Capital's priorities is the development of the "fab of the future"—highly automated semiconductor manufacturing facilities that rely more heavily on artificial intelligence and robotics.
She pointed to Lam Research's collaborative robot, Dextro, as an example of how automation is beginning to transform semiconductor manufacturing. The robot is designed to perform precision tasks on manufacturing equipment, improving consistency while potentially helping fabs address labour shortages over time.
Charles said partnerships with startups remain central to Lam Capital's investment strategy because breakthrough innovation increasingly comes from a broader ecosystem rather than a single company.
"No one company is going to have all the answers," she said. "Lam Capital is really a way for us to tap into the external ecosystem, source disruptive technologies, invest in the future of Lam, and carry that forward."
She also highlighted the importance of building stronger deep-tech ecosystems through collaboration between industry, academia, investors and government-backed organisations. Lam Capital recently joined the India Deep Tech Alliance, which she said provides startups with access to industry expertise and global networks while helping larger companies identify emerging technologies.
Lam Research has separately committed more than $1 billion in investments in India under a memorandum of understanding with the Karnataka government. Charles said Lam Capital's approach in India mirrors its global strategy: identifying disruptive technologies that could become commercially important over the next decade and building long-term partnerships with entrepreneurs.
Looking ahead, she expects AI to remain the biggest driver of semiconductor innovation, creating opportunities for startups developing technologies that improve manufacturing intelligence, automation and next-generation chip production.
"The AI demand is driving an incredible pace of innovation," Charles said. "We really believe that innovation will come from a stronger ecosystem."
/images/ppid_59c68470-image-17827500438742909.webp)
/images/ppid_59c68470-image-178275506533313399.webp)
/images/ppid_a911dc6a-image-1782812531043662.webp)
/images/ppid_a911dc6a-image-178279503039726809.webp)
/images/ppid_59c68470-image-178280009574283502.webp)