Applied Materials unveils $5bn India plan

Applied Materials (AMAT) has committed to invest $5 billion in India under a programme called “Applied Materials (AMAT) India Vision 2035.” The multi-year plan, spanning the next decade, is designed to strengthen the company’s role in India’s semiconductor ecosystem. It was announced on Sept. 17, 2026 at the SEMICON India conference in New Delhi by Prabhu Raja, president of the company’s Semiconductor Products Group.

The company said the investment will be directed toward deepening research and development activities in India, scaling local supplier networks, and expanding workforce and talent programmes. These priorities position India as a key hub for the firm’s long-term technology development and manufacturing support.

A central element of the plan is the development of an advanced semiconductor research park of roughly 140 acres in or near Bengaluru. The facility is intended to serve as a base for cutting-edge R&D and collaboration with partners in India’s chip value chain. Applied Materials also plans to more than double its India-based R&D workforce by 2035 as part of this expansion.

By increasing R&D capacity and building dedicated infrastructure, the company aims to accelerate innovation activities conducted in India. The expanded headcount and new research park are expected to support a broader range of semiconductor technologies and development programmes over the coming decade.

Beyond R&D, Applied Materials plans a significant expansion of its India-based supply network. The company stated that it intends to grow its supply-chain capacity in the country tenfold by 2035. This scaling effort is aimed at creating a larger local base of suppliers that can support its global manufacturing and service needs.

The investment also includes initiatives to broaden workforce and talent development programmes. By expanding training and skill-building efforts, Applied Materials seeks to build a deeper pool of semiconductor expertise in India to support its long-term operations and partnerships.

The announcement comes as India intensifies its push to build a domestic semiconductor industry. Government semiconductor incentive programmes currently total more than $21 billion, providing a policy framework for large-scale private sector commitments. SEMICON India, where the plan was unveiled, has gathered global industry participants and foreign firms to discuss investment and collaboration opportunities.

Within this context, the “India Vision 2035” programme aligns Applied Materials’ expansion plans with India’s broader ambition to grow its role in global semiconductor supply chains. The scale and long time horizon of the $5 billion commitment underscore the company’s intention to deepen its presence in the country’s evolving chip ecosystem.