As part of significant efforts to position Punjab at the forefront of the global semiconductor and advanced electronics ecosystem, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann today signed an agreement with NXP, a global leader and multifaceted technology leader in automotive and secure connectivity semiconductor solutions. Semiconductors have been invited to explore the possibility of setting up a Research & Development (R&D) center in Mohali.

The move is part of the Punjab government’s focused strategy to attract investments, strengthen its innovation ecosystem and integrate the province into the global semiconductor value chain by leveraging Mohali’s emerging position as a leading hub in electronics system design, IT and cutting-edge mobility solutions.

N.X.P. Maurice Gerets, Executive Director and Country Manager of Semiconductors Netherlands and N.X.P. During the meeting with Dr. Ankit Pal, Public Policy Head, Semiconductors, the Chief Minister asked him to explore opportunities for collaboration in advanced electronics, semiconductor design and innovative research-based ecosystem. He said Mohali is strategically located to take advantage of the province’s strong talent pool and emerging electronics ecosystem.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann N.X.P. Also informed about the plans of the State Government to develop a ‘Silicon Valley’ like ecosystem at Kalkat Bhawan, Mohali, which is strategically located near the International Airport and IT City.

The Chief Minister announced the launch of System Design Solutions and NXP under partnership with Startup Punjab. Discussed possible collaboration on the Startup Challenge Programme, which aims to encourage innovation and research, support startups and co-develop cutting-edge technology solutions. He also advocated leveraging Punjab’s emerging automotive and auto-component ecosystem to develop solutions in areas such as Near Field Communication (NFC), Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and secure connectivity technologies, which are in line with global industry trends.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann also mentioned the strong ecosystem of talent present in the province, which includes IITs. Ropar, I.S.B. Mohali, Plaksha University, Punjab Engineering College, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology and other premier institutions, which can work positively to produce high-quality research and engineering workforce.

Chief Minister N.X.P. He was invited to visit Punjab to explore the immense potential in the province and opportunities for working together. Apart from this, he also advocated for taking forward discussions in the areas of research, innovation and startup ecosystem development so as to further strengthen Punjab’s position in the global semiconductor value chain.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, "As part of the ongoing investment promotion program of the Government of Punjab in the Netherlands, they are on track to explore strategic partnerships and establish business relationships with leading global companies to attract investments in priority sectors."

He also presented Punjab’s position as an emerging hub for Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM), IT and cutting-edge mobility solutions. The Chief Minister also spoke about the recently launched Industrial and Trade Development Policy (IBDP) 2026, under which Electronics and Semiconductors has been identified as a profitable sector with incentives up to 125 per cent of fixed capital investment.

He also mentioned the recent investments made in IT City, Mohali by leading global companies, including Infosys, and the ongoing expansion of the Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL), Mohali, where capacity addition initiatives are being taken up with the participation of Tata Group under the Semiconductor Mission of the Government of India. He said, "As a result of the active efforts of the provincial government, Punjab has now emerged as the most preferred investment destination across the world."

During the discussions, NXP highlighted its strong global presence and wide reputation in India focusing on R&D, embedded systems and automotive semiconductor solutions. The company also shared information about emerging global trends, including the dynamic development of intelligent edge systems, automotive electronics, IoT and secure connectivity technologies. Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora and others were also present on this occasion.