India and Belgium will deepen semiconductor cooperation by linking IMEC with India’s semiconductor ecosystem, while expanding defence-electronics manufacturing and technology partnerships.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced plans to connect Belgium’s Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (IMEC) with India’s semiconductor ecosystem. The proposed linkage could give India greater access to advanced semiconductor research, process technology and industry collaboration as the country expands beyond assembly and packaging.
“Belgium’s expertise in semiconductors and India’s scale are complementary to each other. In this direction, we will work together to connect Belgium’s IMEC Institute with India’s semiconductor ecosystem,” Modi said.
The semiconductor partnership forms part of broader cooperation covering advanced technology, advanced manufacturing and supply chains. The two countries aim to double bilateral trade from about $13 billion within five years, while building resilient supply chains and reducing excessive dependence on China.
The partnership also extends into defence electronics, with agreements covering technology transfer, research, co-development and co-production. OIP Sensor Systems and India Optel are cooperating on electro-optical systems for the Arjun tank, while Octave is working with Bharat Electronics on visualisation software already deployed in Indian air-defence programmes including Akash Teer.
Other partnerships cover autonomous naval mine-detection systems, 70mm rocket production, counter-drone systems and drones. Thales Belgium and Kalyani Strategic Systems expect the first fully India-produced 70mm rocket in early 2027.
A Letter of Intent on Defence Cooperation and a BDSI-SIDM memorandum will provide frameworks for wider defence-industrial collaboration. The partnership is also intended to strengthen supply-chain resilience and provide India greater access to European markets.
