A new artificial intelligence platform named Kompact AI was unveiled earlier in 2025 through a collaboration between Indian startup Ziroh Labs and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras). The platform aims to address computing accessibility challenges in India by enabling AI models to run efficiently on standard central processing units (CPUs), potentially reducing reliance on costly and scarce graphics processing units (GPUs)

Below are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from June 16 to June 22, 2025. Top developments include tighter US chip restrictions on China, updates on the next-gen 2nm race from TSMC and Samsung Electronics, and new disruptions in global supply chains driven by rare earth curbs and AI chip controls

Taiwan's entity list against Chinese entities may impact India as India is accelerating chip collaborations with foreign giants

The Economic Times reported that Applied Materials is set to establish a cutting-edge Innovation Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing (ICSM) in Bengaluru, India, with the potential to catalyze over US$2 billion in future investments, according to Suraj Rengarajan, managing director and head of the semiconductor products group at Applied Materials India. His remarks follow the Karnataka government's recent approval of three semiconductor projects, including Applied's proposal

India has granted a license to Elon Musk's Starlink, paving the way for the satellite internet service to operate in the country. India's Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced this on social media, calling it a "next frontier of connectivity" for India. The licence follows the recent issuance of the GMPCS permit from the Department of Telecommunications

Foxconn is preparing to manufacture iPhone enclosures in India for the first time, marking a significant expansion of its local operations. According to sources cited by the Economic Times, the company plans to set up a dedicated unit at the ESR Industrial Park in Oragadam, Tamil Nadu, adjacent to its upcoming display module assembly plant

A recent move that may have escaped wider attention could carry long-term consequences for the global chip supply chain. Taiwan has added China's top foundry, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), and telecommunications giant Huawei to its export control list, effectively banning them from doing business with Taiwan's critical semiconductor sector

Samsung Electronics is entering a new phase of strategic transformation, shifting its focus away from China and toward emerging markets such as India and Vietnam. According to South Korean media outlet Financial News, Samsung will begin actively recruiting "regional experts" for these countries starting in early 2025. This move marks a notable departure from previous practices, which primarily centered around China

Tata Elxsi and Infineon Technologies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop electric vehicle (EV) solutions tailored for the Indian market. The collaboration aims to accelerate the adoption of automotive-grade, cost-optimized, and safety-compliant subsystems in response to India's growing EV sector

L&T Semiconductor Technologies is betting on India's accelerating economic growth and rising demand in sectors such as air conditioning, data centers, and renewable energy to fuel its power module business, as it targets the global market, CEO Sandeep Kumar told DIGITIMES ASIA

VinFast, a Vietnam-based EV maker, has announced a collaboration with Global Assure to enhance its customer service network throughout India. This partnership aims to provide comprehensive support and innovative mobility solutions to VinFast's expanding customer base in the country, according to an official press release

India has reportedly instructed a state-run miner to suspend rare earth exports to Japan under a 2012 bilateral deal, aiming to secure a domestic supply and reduce reliance on China amid tightening Chinese export controls and rising global demand for critical minerals like neodymium used in electric vehicle magnets

Counterpoint Research forecasts that India will account for one-fifth of global smartphone manufacturing output in 2025, driven by rising exports from major brands like Apple and Samsung, according to the Economic Times, Hindu Business Line, and CNBC. The report comes as global smartphone shipments face renewed uncertainty from potential tariff changes, particularly from the US

Amid a delicate political backdrop, Chinese electronics manufacturers in India are cautiously expanding their footprint, balancing growing export ambitions with regulatory scrutiny and policy hurdles. While the Indian government nudges them toward local production, tight controls and unresolved tensions continue to shape their operational and investment strategies

Minor progresses are seen in India's semiconductor manufacturing landscape. China's tightened export control on rare earths begins to disrupt India's EV dream