An India-based gallium nitride (GaN) startup is exploring partnerships with Japanese companies to strengthen its technology stack and tap into Japan's advanced semiconductor supply chain, as both countries deepen strategic cooperation in tech and defense.
The effort is part of the company's broader strategy to scale up domestic manufacturing and enter global markets.
Hareesh Chandrasekar, Co-Founder and CEO of Agnit Semi, said during an interview with DIGITIMES Asia in Tokyo that the company is exploring opportunities for cross-border collaboration during its participation in the Emergent Tokyo event hosted by 3one4 Capital.
"We are very keen to partner with the Japanese semiconductor ecosystem given the India-Japan strategic partnership," said Chandrasekar. "There seems to be a lot of interest, especially in how we can build a cross-border IP platform, particularly for manufacturing collaboration."
The visit comes as India moves ahead with its semiconductor ambitions under a government-backed industrial strategy. The first phase of the $10 billion semiconductor incentive scheme is nearly exhausted, and a second phase is expected to be launched soon.
"India has been completely plugged out of the global semiconductor ecosystem for many decades," Chandrasekar said. "But now it is finally time to get back in. Design has always been strong, and we are now beginning to make progress on the manufacturing side."
Focus on IP collaboration and supply chain development
Agnit's outreach aligns with recent policy initiatives, including the 2024 India-Japan Semiconductor Supply Chain Partnership and a more recent defense collaboration agreement between the two countries. Chandrasekar said these developments provide the policy foundation for meaningful business cooperation.
Japan's strength in semiconductor-grade chemicals and fabrication equipment makes it a valuable partner for Indian companies that are scaling up manufacturing.
"For chemicals like isopropyl alcohol, acetone, photoresists, and lithography equipment, Japan has a strong supply chain. These are not readily available in India today," he said.
He also pointed to Tokyo Electron's partnership with Tata Electronics as a sign of the growing collaboration between Japanese and Indian semiconductor stakeholders.
Chandrasekar said Agnit is actively seeking to co-develop gallium nitride wafers and devices with Japanese firms. The company's internal technology stack includes proprietary materials, processing, and device-level IP, which it hopes to align with the needs of potential Japanese partners.
"Japanese companies may want to try differentiated wafers for specific device applications. We can support prototype development and pilot production at our facility in India," he said. "Once the concept is validated, it can be scaled up in Japan using their high-volume fabs."
Another area of interest is co-developing GaN-based solutions for Indian applications, such as EV two-wheeler chargers. Agnit would bring market knowledge and device-level expertise, while Japanese partners could contribute system-level design and integration capabilities.
Chandrasekar outlined three primary areas for partnership: co-development of materials, small-batch device manufacturing, and India-specific product development.
"So far, the response has been encouraging. It is still early, but the Japanese ecosystem has been quite open to these conversations," he said.
Supply chain resilience and cultural fit
Agnit is currently running three pilot programs with customers in India's strategic sector. As the company moves toward commercialization, building a resilient supply chain becomes increasingly important.
"Initial volumes will be small, but over the next one to three years, this will be critical as we scale," Chandrasekar said.
He also noted that working with Japanese partners brings additional benefits to Indian firms in terms of manufacturing quality and process discipline.
"There is a very high emphasis on quality here," he said. "Even if you get one Japanese customer, it improves your own manufacturing processes and compliance standards. That is a real value-add for Indian companies."
Chandrasekar sees the potential for Japan to revive its semiconductor leadership by collaborating with emerging markets like India.
"If Japan is looking to make a comeback in the semiconductor space, partnering with India makes sense. India is building out its manufacturing base, and Japan has the technology and supply chain strength," he said.
Agnit Semiconductors is one of the few Indian startups building GaN technology end-to-end. The company believes its approach, combined with Japan's ecosystem maturity, creates a strong case for long-term collaboration.
Article edited by Jack Wu
