VOL XXIV, ISSUE 19

15 October 2023

Industry Scan

Global Chipmakers, Suppliers Are Looking to Invest In European Market, But What Are The Challenges

A new report has now surfaced that top suppliers to Taiwan’s semiconductor manufacturing firms are now planning to invest in the European market by setting-up the first cutting-edge chipset factory on the continent. In an exclusive interaction with the Financial Times, Vincent Liu, president and chief executive of LCY Group, a cleaning agents and solvents supplier to TSMC, said that they are planning for billions of dollars of investments in Germany to capture the entire European market and also developing the region's supply chain ecosystem.

Source: https://circuitdigest.com/, October 12, 2023

India and France forge deeper ties in Space sector at Indian Space Conclave 2023

The 2nd edition of the annual Indian Space Conclave organized by Indian Space Association kicked off in the capital today. The first day was dedicated to India-France collaboration in the space sector. The event was attended by representative of French and Indian space industry leaders, startups and government officials. The event witnessed signing of a significant MoU between ISpA and GIFAS, the French Aerospace Industries Association which is aimed to enhance the understanding of space industry capabilities and increase awareness of business opportunities in France and India. The collaboration will help foster sustainable growth, promote innovation and advocate adoption of new technologies in France and India space industries.

Source: Press Release

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Information Technology

Gartner Identifies the Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2024

Gartner, Inc. today announced its list of 10 top strategic technology trends that organizations need to explore in 2024. Analysts presented their findings during Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo, which is taking place here through Thursday. “Technology disruptions and socioeconomic uncertainties require willingness to act boldly and strategically enhance resilience over ad hoc responses,” said Bart Willemsen, VP Analyst at Gartner. “IT leaders are in a unique position to strategically lay down a roadmap where technology investments help their business's sustenance of success amidst these uncertainties and pressures.”

Source: https://www.gartner.com/, October 16, 2023

Chief Secretary launches Digi Dost Toll-Free Number, Online Services, IT Policies

Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta launched a slew of digital initiatives aimed at improving access to government services at Civil Secretariat here today. The various initiatives launched include a Toll-Free Number- 1447, which aims to provide e-services at the doorstep of the common public by paying a minimal fee prescribed by the Govt. DigiDost – a collaborative initiative of Information Technology Department and Community Service Centre (CSC) is a revolutionary step by which people can get the services delivered at their doorstep by calling on this toll free number.

Source: https://www.greaterkashmir.com/, October 17, 2023

Delhi LG VK Saxena Okays 571 New Posts For IT Cadre

Of 571 new posts, officials said, 263 would be generic, 137 would be earmarked for data entry operators and 171 would be IT specialists. All IT specialists deputed in various departments are deployed by the government's information technology department. The LG, while giving his nod, directed that the IT department will now be the cadre controlling authority of IT specialists. All government departments looking for additional workforce will have to request the IT department for the deployment of specialists. According to the government officials, the government had, in September last year, formed a high-level committee under the chairmanship of additional chief secretary of the general administration department to study the existing IT cadre and propose a new and dynamic structure.

Source: https://m.timesofindia.com/, October 17, 2023

YouTube receives request from IT Ministry to label fake news channels as 'Unverified'

 The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has taken a strong stance against the proliferation of "fake news channels" on Google-owned YouTube. MeitY issued an advisory, calling on YouTube to take necessary legal actions against these deceptive channels. In response to the issue, MeitY has recommended that YouTube include a prominent disclaimer, reading "news not verified," on content from these fake news channels. In addition to addressing YouTube, the IT Ministry has also directed major social media platforms with user bases exceeding five million members to devise and submit action plans within a span of ten days. These action plans are expected to detail the platforms' strategies for combating fake news and other forms of unlawful content.

Source: https://www.indiatvnews.com/, October 16, 2023

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Telecom

Upgrading 2G Users to 4G/5G a Big Opportunity for Indian Telcos

The Indian telecom sector has a lot of room for growth in the consumer business. Telcos are focused on increasing the prices of mobile plans to improve their ARPU (average revenue per user). But it is not the only way telcos will notice ARPU improvement in wireless mobile services. Many consumers will increase their data consumption as digitisation gets a push, resulting in more recharges in a quarter. Then users will be paying extra for consuming 5G services and OTT (over-the-top) bundled prepaid packs. But one way through which the telcos can see their ARPU go upwards is by converting 2G customers to 4G/5G.

Source: telecomtalk.inf, October 17, 2023

Bharti Airtel Announces New COO in Recent Executive Appointment

Bharti Airtel has named Shashwat Sharma as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the company. The telco notified the changes in a late filing at the stock exchanges on Sunday. Airtel's Director of Operations for the India business, Sunil Taldar, has been shifted to Airtel Africa. Taldar will be the Director for Transformation in Airtel Africa, a fast-growing telecom operator in the African region. Prior to this, Sharma worked as the head of marketing and consumer business at Airtel as well as CEO of the telco's DTH arm, Airtel Digital TV.

Source: By Tanay Singh Thakur, telecomtalk.inf, October 17, 2023

Nokia, BT, MediaTek successfully conduct 5G RedCap trials

Finnish telecom gear maker Nokia together with BT Group and Taiwanese fabless chipmaker MediaTek has successfully completed the trials of 5G Reduced Capability (RedCap) with RedCap devices. The trial took place at BT Group’s Adastral Park site, and utilised Nokia’s AirScale Radio Access Network (RAN) portfolio, EE’s 5G Standalone (SA) network, and MediaTek’s RedCap testing platform. RedCap is a technology introduced in 3GPP Release 17 that brings 5G to devices that do not require its full capabilities.

Source: https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/, October 16, 2023

Telecom Diary: Net Neutrality: Battle between telcos & OTTs intensifies!

The net neutrality issue has resurfaced. The issue came to limelight way back in 2015 with the launch of Facebook’s Free Basics and Bharti Airtel’s Zero Platform - which aimed to provide limited access to the internet to users. But both the programmes were rejected by the telecom regulator Trai citing net neutrality principles - no discouraging data or discrimination to internet access.

Source: https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/, October 14, 2023

Fresh spectrum allocation plan in the works, may open up more bands

With the draft telecom Bill still up in the air, the government is working on an updated version of the National Frequency Allocation Plan (NFAP), sources said. The NFAP is a central policy that defines the road map for future spectrum usage by all national authorities, including the telecom and space departments and information and broadcasting and defence ministries. It provides a broad regulatory framework, identifying which frequency bands are available for cellular mobile service, Wi-Fi, sound and television broadcasting, radionavigation for aircraft and ships, defence and security communications, disaster relief and emergency communications, and satellite broadcasting, among others.

Source: https://www.business-standard.com/, September 27, 2023

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EV’s & Auto Electronics

Minister R.K. Singh launches EV-Ready dashboard to boost electric vehicle adoption

Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy R. K. Singh launched the EV-Ready Dashboard on October 16 in New Delhi. It is a huge step forward for electric mobility in India. This free digital platform, accessible at (evreadyindia.org), was created by specialists at the OMI Foundation and provides real-time insights into EV adoption, battery demand, charging infrastructure, and market growth trends. The EV-Ready India Dashboard, developed by the OMI Foundation, compiles comprehensive data on EV sales, charging infrastructure, demand trends, and Total Cost of Ownership. It provides a unique perspective on India’s investment climate for EVs, forecasts market growth, and identifies EV hotspots in the country. The dashboard also tracks emissions reduced, contributing to India’s path to Net Zero emissions.

Source: https://newsonair.com/, October 16, 2023

After Tesla & VinFast, Global Tech Giant Acer To Sell EVs In India

Taiwanese tech giant Acer has partnered with mobility startup Think Ebikego to enter India’s electric vehicle (EV) market. Acer will sell electric scooter model MUVI 125 4G at INR 99,999, manufactured by the startup. In addition to the two-wheelers, Ebikego will also manufacture three wheelers for Acer. The electric scooters will come with swappable batteries and can be customised for B2B use cases such as food and grocery deliveries, the company said in a statement.  The new model will offer a top speed of 75 km/h and a range of 80 km and qualifies for central and state government subsidies.

Source: https://inc42.com/, October 16, 2023

Open house: What factors should the Chandigarh Administration consider while reviewing electric vehicle policy?

Electrical vehicles should be promoted to curb pollution. However, to stop the registration of non-electric two-wheelers all of a sudden is sure to result in no sale of bikes and scooters lying with the dealers. This will result in a loss to the manufacturers. Two-wheelers do not pollute the air much. Besides, heavy-duty vehicles running on diesel pollute the environment more than non-EV two-wheelers. Why doesn't the Administration apply the same rule in the case of heavy-duty vehicles? The City Beautiful has to increase the sale and registration of EV vehicles to reduce air pollution. The sale of EVs cannot increase without setting up of basic charging infrastructure across the city.

Source: https://www.tribuneindia.com/, October 16, 2023

Northern Territory of Australia tries to attract Chennai EV makers with rare earth magnets

Electric cars manufactured in Chennai require a kilogramme of magnet to provide the motion needed to fire engines, and these magnets are processed in the Northern Territory of Australia which is vying for a trade partnership with India to help the country achieve the net carbon neutrality by 2070. manufacturing companies like Kia and Hyundai relying on these magnets for their electric vehicles, Northern Australia is looking to strengthen ties particularly with south India, including Tamil nadu, said Northern Territory Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison.

Source: https://www.newindianexpress.com/, October 14, 2023

Electric Vehicles Play a Surprising Role in Supporting Grid Resiliency

Widespread electrification initiatives are increasing the demands on America’s aging power grid, but utilities and consumers may have an unlikely ally in electric vehicles (EVs). Research from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Leiden University’s Institute of Environmental Sciences in the Netherlands evaluates how vehicle-to-grid (V2G) bidirectional charging programs may offer short-term grid storage opportunities, as detailed in a Nature Communications journal article. Across the country, Americans are facing rolling blackouts and power failures caused by severe weather events. One contributing factor in these stressful scenarios is that U.S. electricity consumption tends to follow predictable demand cycles that do not always coincide with energy supply.

Source: By Rebecca Martineau, https://www.nrel.gov/, October 12, 2023

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Defence & Solar

Army to get apaches

The Indian Air Force has traditionally been responsible for operating attack helicopters. Over the last decade, the Army has sought to operate attack helicopters on its own in support of its strike formations. Army Aviation recently inducted the first batch of Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) reported The Hindu. Both Army and IAF are inducting the initial batch of 15 LCH "Prachand". A bigger deal for 156 LCH, 90 for the Army and 66 for the IAF, estimated to cost ₹45,000 crore is awaiting Government approval. The Cabinet Committee on Security has already given in-principle sanction for procurement of 39 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from the US.

Source: https://www.indiandefensenews.in/, October 16, 2023

Chennai based hawking defence develops wearable anti drone solution

 Hawking Defence Services (HDS) is a Chennai-based tech start-up that provides cost-effective solutions to the Indian military. HDS's wearable anti-drone system is a compact and portable system that can detect and neutralize multiple drone threats. It can detect and mitigate remote controlled drones at long ranges, often before the drone takes off. It weighs weighing just 775 g per unit, that offers full protection for security units against commercial drones used by unfriendly forces for surveillance or as a weapon delivery system. It consists of wearable RF sensors for drone detection, jammers that utilize smart jamming to defeat enemy drones, & an Active, quad-band external omnidirectional antenna. Working together, they make a complete detect-and-defeat solution to mitigate the threat of malicious drones.

Source: https://www.indiandefensenews.in/, October 16, 2023

Canada says no sign india tensions are impacting military ties

The diplomatic standoff between India and Canada over the killing of a Sikh separatist leader has not affected military cooperation between the two nations, according to the Commander of Canadian Fleet Pacific, Commodore David Mazur. He stated that there have been "friendly meetings" with Indian officials regarding regional security matters and priorities for their respective navies. A top Canadian navy official said there’s no sign the diplomatic standoff between India and Canada over the killing of a Sikh separatist leader has impacted military-to-military cooperation between the two nations.

Source: https://www.indiandefensenews.in/, October 16, 2023

Hundreds of tests planned, number of vyomanauts not fixed, could just be one: isro's somanath on Gaganyaan

In a crucial step in India’s ambitious program to lift its astronauts into space, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will test its crew escape system (CES) on October 21, 2023. The flight, from Sriharikota, will test if the CES can protect the astronauts should the launch vehicle malfunction. ISRO has designated this mission TV-D1. According to an ISRO statement, the test will begin between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. When the launch vehicle – fit with the crew module and the CES – reaches a velocity of 1.2 Mach and an altitude of 17 km, an abort command will be issued. The module with the CES will separate from the rocket and deploy a series of parachutes, and eventually splash down in the Bay of Bengal, where Navy personnel will recover it. The whole sequence will be uncrewed.

Source: https://www.indiandefensenews.in/, October 16, 2023

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Consumer Electronics

Global Consumer Electronics Manufacturing Market Research Report 2023: Five-year Industry Forecasts and Growth Rates

Consumer electronics manufacturers have grappled with significant challenges in recent years. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led to a decline in consumer spending, manufacturing output, and trade volumes, adversely affecting the industry. Moreover, heightened competition among both established and smaller manufacturers has further contributed to declines in revenue. According to industry data, the consumer electronics sector has witnessed a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -0.3% over the past five years, resulting in industry-wide revenue projections of $1.6 trillion for 2023. However, there is optimism on the horizon as revenue is expected to rebound with an estimated 2.6% increase, albeit with a dip in profit to 3.5%. 

Source: https://finance.yahoo.com/, October 16, 2023 

Hero Group's consumer electronics business to seek ₹200 crore external funding

Hero Electronix, a subsidiary of the Hero Group, said it will look to raise funds from external investors by the end of the year as it looks to double its revenue by next year. Hero Electronix's brand Qubo designs and markets products in the smart home and smart mobility segments, including home cameras, smart locks and a range of dash cameras. The direct-to-consumer (D2C) brand is also rapidly expanding its presence offline.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/, October 05, 2023 

AI takes centre stage as Gitex Global opens in Dubai

Gitex Global opened to packed auditoriums on Monday as over 6,000 companies from across the globe gathered at the largest tech event in the region. Over 180,000 visitors are expected to visit the five-day event being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Over 40 workshops will be held during the five-day Gitex Global. 

Source: https://gulfnews.com/, October 16, 2023 

India, Brazil, U.S., Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market Revenue to Boost Cross $4,751.1 Mn by 2030

Over the last few years there is increase in the digitalization of all the electronic equipment. Therefore, most of the equipment are available with AI driven smart features. This, in turn, increases the need for repair and maintenance. Market players are expanding their service centers in smaller towns of Brazil and India; the market is already well-established in the U.S. Moreover, application of digitalization in consumer electronic products is increasing efficiency in making supply chain process easier and transparent. The number of social media users has increased considerably with rise in internet penetration. Taking this into consideration, most of the key players in the consumer electronics repair and maintenance strategize on promoting their products and services on these social media platforms. 

Source: https://kalkinemedia.com/, October 13, 2023 

Global Smartphone Market Reaches its Lowest Q3 Levels in a Decade; Apple’s Share at 16%

Global smartphone sell-through volumes fell 8% YoY in Q3 2023, the ninth consecutive quarter to record a decline, but grew 2% QoQ, according to the latest research from Counterpoint’s Market Pulse service. Volumes declined YoY largely due to slower than expected recovery in consumer demand. But the market’s QoQ growth, especially the positive performance in September despite one full week less of sales of the new iPhones, is likely a sign of positive news ahead. Samsung continued to lead the global market, capturing a fifth of the total sales in Q3. The new generation of foldables received a mixed response, with the Flip 5 outselling its counterpart by nearly twice as much. However, Samsung’s A-series models remained market leaders in mid-price bands. Apple came in second with a 16% market share despite the limited availability of iPhone 15 series, which has been received well so far. 

Source: https://www.counterpointresearch.com/, October 17, 2023

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EMSIF

(Special section of the MSME related news under ELCINA Micro & Small Industry Forum)

Kerala launches insurance cover for MSME sector

In a big support to the State’s robust MSME sector, Kerala government has launched a comprehensive insurance scheme covering the entire spectrum of micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), protecting them from various risks and boosting their confidence to flourish in a competitive business ecosystem. The Department of Industries and Commerce entered into MoU with four public sector insurance companies. Under the scheme, 50 per cent of the annual premium will be reimbursed to the MSMEs.

Source: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com, October 13, 2023

Kerala government launches insurance scheme for MSMEs

The Kerala government has announced an insurance scheme dedicated to the MSMEs in the state against business risks and instil confidence in their operations, PTI reported. The Department of Industries and Commerce has formalised agreements with four public sector insurance companies to provide tailored products for the MSMEs of Kerala. Under the insurance scheme, a wide range of risks would be covered including natural disasters, fire accidents, theft, accidents and market fluctuations, curbing the risk of devastating financial losses for businesses.

Source: https://www.financialexpress.com/, October 13, 2023

Power cuts in Karnataka will hit MSMEs’ domestic, exports delivery commitments, say trade bodies

The business outlook of around 6 lakh medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs) in Karnataka looks bleak as interruptions in power supply by way of scheduled/unscheduled power cuts and load-shedding are only likely to continue as the state started at a drought situation with monsoon clearing failing this year. According to trade body captains, one of the major concerns is MSMEs’ inability to deliver their commitments to their domestic as well as international customers in time and this is likely to lead to conflicts and long-term business losses.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/, October 15, 2023

MSME sector continues to show resilience and growth: Minister

The Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector in India has continued to demonstrate resilience and growth, as per the latest information received from the ministry of statistics &programme implementation and the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS), said minister of state for micro, small, and medium enterprises, Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, the minister said, according to the data presented by the Ministry of Statistics &Programme Implementation, the share of MSME Gross Value Added (GVA) in India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) displayed a fluctuating trend over the last three years.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/, October 07, 2023

M1xchange and Haryana Govt. Collaborate to Support MSMEs

Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) Platform M1xchange has signed an Agreement with Government of Haryana, to provide invoice discounting services and easy financial access to MSMEs working for various government departments and PSUs of the state. The agreement was signed on 11th Oct 2023, in the presence of Hon'ble Chief Minister of Haryana Shri Manohar Lal Khattar, Hon'ble Deputy Chief Minister, Shri Dushyant Chautala, Shri Sanjeev Kaushal, Chief Secretary, Shri Anand Mohan Sharan, ACS, Industries & Commerce, and Shri Shekhar Vidyarthi, DG Industries & MSME, and representatives from various industry associations.

Source: https://smestreet.in/, October 16, 2023

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ELCINA EVENTS , ACTIVITIES & SERVICES 

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ELCINA Publications

https://elcina.com/roadmap-for-developing-pcb-eco-system-in-india	Roadmap For Developing PCB Eco-System in India Key Findings Indian PCB market and industry size in terms of domestic production, exports, and imports Growth drivers and challenges (needs & gaps) in the Indian PCB industry Growth potential of PCB manufacturing in India and identify enablers for creating & strengthening the domestic value chain Key inputs required viz. investments, technology, and infra eco-system Details of key PCB value chain players – global and domestic, who can be invited to invest to establish a strong PCB industry
https://elcina.com/ems-task-force-report-on-market-industry-analysis-of-ems-sector-in-india	EMS Task Force Report Key Findings Currently EMS Industry (Contract Manufacturing Services) are valued 832 Bn $ and are projected to grow 1055 Bn by 2025. Domestic electronics manufacturing is estimated at USD 75 Bn of which 39 Bn constitutes EMS value. This is divided into 23.5 Bn domestic Mfg. and USD 15.5 Bn PCBS/Sub-Assembly imports. Further USD 53.5 Bn is finished Electronic Goods imports of which USD 17 Bn is EMS value. Thus total EMS opportunity loss is US$ 32.5 Bn (15.5 +17). The report estimates that EMS production can grow realistically from USD 23.5 Bn today to USD 152 Bn by 2025 at CAGR of 45%. This will meet 75% of the countries EMS requirement of US$ 203 Bn by 2025 against a total estimated market of 400 Bn.
https://elcina.com/elcina-task-force-report-on-electronic-components	ELCINA Task Force Report on Electronic Components Key Findings Current status of component manufacturing in India – Areas of competence vs Gaps and inadequacies Components which urgently require investments and growth in domestic manufacturing Emerging technology and new components for upcoming opportunities Constraints and bottlenecks to be addressed Overcoming Policy constraints, WTO (ITA-1) deadlock and Zero Duty issue Strategy for overcoming these constraints Eco-System requirements- Role of Central and State Governments
https://elcina.com/elcina-directory-of-indian-electronics-industry	ELCINA Directory of Indian Electronics Industry 2022-23 Description ELCINA Directory of Indian Electronics Industry – includes the updates on Indian Electronics Industry and a host of additional improved features covering business environment, statistical industry scan, company databases plus various projections. This handy compendium with its easy-to-read format attracts the attention of a growing number of users (within India and abroad) Apart from electronics industry, the users of this Directory range from financial institutions, commercial banks, FIIs, Consultancy organizations as well as industry promotion institutes across the world….

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FORTHCOMING EVENTS &  GENERAL INFORMATION 

 Domestic Shows

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