Technology
How does an economist view the complexities of the semiconductor supply chain? While engineers build the chips, it is economics, policy, and geopolitics that determine who leads the industry.
In this episode of Chai & Chips, I sit down with Dr. Badri Narayanan Gopalakrishnan, a seasoned economist and Fellow - NITI Aayog. We move beyond the technical specs to discuss the macro-level levers India must pull to transition from a service provider to a global technology architect.
From the "snowball effect" of India’s electronics exports to lessons learned from Taiwan, China, and Vietnam, Dr. Badri provides a unique "30,000-foot view" of the ecosystem. We also dive into the symbiotic relationship between AI and chip manufacturing, the future of work, and why we need to move from "Zero-Sum" geopolitics to "Infinite Sum" geo-economics.
Topics Covered:
- India’s shift from "doing nothing" to multi-billion-dollar exports.
- What India can learn from Taiwan’s education system and Vietnam’s investment policies.
- Why AI needs chips, but chip manufacturing needs AI even more.
- Navigating the "unknown unknowns" of global trade wars.
- Vision 2047: India as a Global Technology Architect.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction: The Economist's View on Semiconductors
02:30 - India’s Tipping Point: From "Doing Nothing" to Exporting Billions
07:36 - Learning from Taiwan: The Power of Education and Industry Promotion
13:13 - The China & Vietnam Playbook: Supply Chains and Investment Incentives
19:17 - From Policy to Execution: The Need for R&D and State Coordination
22:15 - The AI-Semiconductor Symbiosis: How AI is Reshaping Chip Design
27:32 - The Future of Work: Navigating the AI Disruption in India’s Job Market
39:49 - Lightning Round: Economics, Innovation, and Skills for the Future
46:43 - Geo-Economics: Balancing Tariffs, Trade, and Global Alliances
59:37 - Vision 2047: India as a Global Technology Architect
Resources:
Find Badri on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/badrinarayanang/
Find Prakash on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-mallya/
Find Prakash on X: https://x.com/PrakashMallya
Find Prakash on Substack: https://www.prakashmallya.com/s/chai-and-chips-podcast
Find Prakash on Medium: https://medium.com/@pmallya2411
All episode transcripts are available on Substack and Medium.