SEMI announces formation of India SSL special interest group

SEMI, the manufacturing industry trade group for semiconductors and related industries, announced it has formed a special interest group on high-brightness LEDs and solid-state lighting (SSL) in India. The group will focus on materials, equipment and manufacturing issues to further promote SSL – through cost reduction, quality improvement, supply chain development, and industry promotion. The new group is comprised of both SEMI members and industry leaders in the HB-LED market.

As we reported previously, the Indian Government has provided incentives to the country’s emerging energy-efficiency industry, including LED lighting, under the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE). Recently, the Government of India announced the reduction in excise duty on LED lights/lighting fixtures from 8 percent to 4 percent, on par with CFLs.

The SEMI special interest group will host an industry forum at the upcoming SOLARCON India 2011 (November 9-11) in Hyderabad, which will focus on SSL technology with speakers from LED manufacturers, LED suppliers, researchers and others. Attendees are expected including professionals from academia, government and lighting manufacturers. The group is also encouraging the development of an ecosystem for India’s emerging SSL manufacturing industry. For more information, see www.semi.org/led.