Samsung plans India tech and manufacturing hub under PLI scheme

Samsung is making its largest-ever commitment to India, with a massive new investment that moves beyond simple smartphone assembly to high-value manufacturing and R&D. This strategic expansion aims to establish India as a core hub for Samsung’s global operations, directly aligning with India’s ambitions for technological self-reliance.

The Pillars of Samsung’s Major India Expansion

The following table summarizes the key components of Samsung’s expanded strategy in India:

Strategic Focus	Key Activities & Goals	Alignment with India’s Vision
Advanced Component Manufacturing	Applying for PLI to produce mobile displays in Noida; seeking extension of smartphone PLI. Seeking competitive local chip sourcing.	Atmanirbhar Bharat; reduces import dependence and builds a high-value electronics supply chain.
High-Value R&D & Innovation	Expanding Samsung Semiconductor India Research (SSIR) in Bengaluru. Hiring engineers for AI chips, SoC design, and HBM memory critical for AI. Focus on developing and localizing AI for Indian consumers.	“Semicon India” Mission; transforms India from a cost center to a strategic “capability-led” global design hub.
Fostering Local Talent & Startups	Strategic MoU with Startup India to support young innovators, especially from Tier 2/3 cities. Running the “Solve for Tomorrow” innovation challenge with grants up to ₹1 crore.	Skill India, Digital India; builds an inclusive, homegrown innovation ecosystem.
Export-Led Growth from India	India is already Samsung’s largest phone factory globally, with 42% of its ₹1 lakh+ crore India revenue coming from exports. Creating new capacity in India (not shifting from Vietnam) to serve growing global demand.	Supports India’s goal of becoming a $300B+ electronics export powerhouse by 2030.

Why Samsung is Doubling Down on India Now

This strategic push is driven by converging commercial and geopolitical factors. Commercially, India is both a massive, fast-growing market and a competitive manufacturing base. Samsung’s revenue in India crossed $11 billion in 2025. Rival Apple’s success in manufacturing and premium market growth has further intensified the competitive landscape, pushing Samsung to deepen its local integration to secure its long-term position.

The Indian government’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme has been a major catalyst, directly credited for Samsung’s export-led growth. By applying for the component PLI, Samsung is positioning itself to benefit from the next phase of incentives while helping India move up the manufacturing value chain.

For India, this expansion is a significant milestone in its Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) journey. Samsung’s display production plans would make India only the third country with such a facility, dramatically increasing local value addition. Similarly, its R&D surge in Bengaluru for AI chips and memory aligns perfectly with the national Semicon India mission, aiming to capture a share of the projected $100 billion Indian semiconductor market by 2030.

Impact and Opportunities for the Ecosystem

Samsung’s move signals a profound shift in India’s role—from an assembly outpost to a strategic pillar in global tech supply chains. This creates substantial opportunities.

• For Founders and Startups: The focus on local component sourcing opens doors for Indian vendors who can meet Samsung’s quality standards. The Startup India partnership provides a direct pathway for deep-tech and hardware innovators to access mentorship, funding, and market linkages.
• For the Workforce: The expansion will create thousands of jobs, not just in manufacturing but, more importantly, in high-skilled R&D roles for chip design and AI development.
• For the Broader Industry: Samsung’s commitment acts as a powerful vote of confidence, likely to attract more foreign investment into India’s electronics and semiconductor ecosystem. It also sets the stage for intensified competition with Apple, Google, and other tech giants investing heavily in India, ultimately benefiting consumers with more innovative and locally tailored products.

Samsung’s expanded blueprint for India goes beyond “Make in India” toward “Innovate for the World from India.” By integrating advanced manufacturing, strategic R&D, and grassroots innovation, it is building a resilient, long-term partnership that promises to accelerate India’s rise as a global technology superpower.