India launches India Photonics Association to drive industry innovation

India has launched the India Photonics Association (IPA), its first independent, ecosystem-led industry body dedicated to the photonics sector. The association aims to foster innovation, strengthen industry collaboration, and provide technical inputs to support national policymaking.

Ashwini Aggarwal, Director General of the IPA, announced that the country is poised for expansion, with at least one to two industry-led silicon photonics pilot projects expected to emerge. The development is supported by the government’s semiconductor program, which has allocated approximately Rs 1.27 lakh crore (around USD 14 billion) to attract an estimated USD 40 billion in investments.

The IPA seeks to build an end-to-end supply chain to develop world-class photonics products. The sector is viewed as a foundational component of India’s digital future, impacting satellite imagery, internet data transmission, and medical laser technologies. Under the Semicon 2.0 program, silicon photonics has gained prominence, with provisions for both mainstream projects and a dedicated silicon photonics fab within the R&D program.