Guwahati: With India's digital economy racing ahead with fast-paced growth in artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and semiconductor production, the IT sector in Northeast India is at a turning point, beset by new opportunities and long-standing challenges. Though the Northeast stands to benefit from the government's emphasis on high-tech manufacturing and digital access, experts stress the urgent need for infrastructure, skilling and entrepreneurship interventions to keep pace with the national growth story.
Against this backdrop, the panel discussion on "Unlocking Northeast's Digital Potential" at the Northeast Business Conclave 2.0 on March 8, 2025, brought together eminent leaders from technology, government, academia and startup ecosystems to chart a transformative roadmap for the region. Moderated by IT consultant Mukul Das, the session featured Jyotirmoy Chakravorty, Founder of Ubona Technologies; Vandana Srivastava, Director, STPI Guwahati; Omkarnath S Rath, COO, Assam Startup – The Nest; and Chandan Karfa, semiconductor expert and Associate Professor, IIT Guwahati. The experts deliberated on actionable pathways to bridge the digital divide, foster innovation, boost entrepreneurship and prepare a skilled workforce that can leverage emerging technologies and the upcoming semiconductor ecosystem to reshape the region’s economic landscape.
Opening the discussion, Vandana Srivastava, director of STPI, Guwahati, highlighted that although software exports and technology startups are picking up steam in the region, the absence of strong digital infrastructure and state-of-the-art incubation facilities is a prime bottleneck.
"STPI has been working day and night to foster startups, but without good data centres, cloud infra, and new-age workspaces, we are curbing the potential of countless brilliant entrepreneurs from the Northeast," stated Srivastava.
Echoing this, Omkarnath S Rath from Assam Startup – The Nest emphasised that it takes more than policy support to create a thriving startup ecosystem—it takes market access, capital, and robust mentorship platforms. "We have wonderful ideas emerging from the Assam and Northeast youth, but unless we bridge them with actual investors, industries, and global customers, they cannot scale," said Rath. He also declared that Assam Startup is coming up with a special mentorship and quick prototyping platform to boost innovation.
Semiconductors: The Game Changer for Assam's Economy:
One of the session’s key highlights was the focus on the semiconductor industry coming to Assam, which experts dubbed a "game changer" for the regional economy. It was revealed that over 30,000 direct and indirect jobs could be created in Assam over the next 5–10 years with the establishment of advanced semiconductor manufacturing units.
“Semiconductor manufacturing requires cutting-edge infrastructure, clean rooms, and highly skilled manpower — and Assam is gearing up to meet this challenge,” Chandan Karfa noted while emphasising the imperative of having world-class training and skilling initiatives to produce a job-ready workforce.
"Semiconductor fabrication is not like a conventional factory setup. It needs state-of-the-art fabrication technology, clean room facilities, specialised chemical processing, and engineers trained to fabricate at nano-scale accuracy," said Karfa.
Experts highlighted semiconductor factories would draw in an array of ancillary industries, such as automotive electronics, IoT, and AI solutions, paving the way for Assam to become a "Digital Hub of India."
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Bringing an entrepreneurial perspective, Jyotirmoy Chakravorty, Founder of Ubona Technologies, shared his journey from Assam to building a Rs 150 crore AI-driven IT firm, encouraging young entrepreneurs to think globally.
"If you think small, you'll be replaced tomorrow. But if you think global, even from Guwahati, you can succeed," said Chakravorty. Enunciating his mantra 'Score for More', Chakravorty described how entrepreneurs need to look for holes in current solutions and design products that significantly enhance user experiences.
"When you take a system that's two out of ten years old and develop a solution that's seven or eight, that's your goldmine," he said.
STPI Guwahati Director Srivastava stated there are the continued efforts aimed at strengthening the startup ecosystem with the facilitation of software export and startup incubation in the Northeast.
"We aim to help the startups within the region leverage the proper platform, mentorship, and access to markets for growth beyond local scales," she explained.
Rath emphasised the importance of policy interventions and innovation-friendly environments that can offer access to markets and funding.
Experts announced that NIELIT is establishing a dedicated university near Jagiroad, close to Assam’s upcoming semiconductor plant, to ensure local talent gets priority recruitment while addressing the challenges in the skill development sector.
The upcoming courses will include:
* Semiconductor design and manufacturing
* Technician-level training for advanced manufacturing roles
* AI, IoT, and cloud technology courses
Professor Karfa also highlighted India’s global leadership in VLSI chip design, with 20% of the global VLSI design workforce being Indian, urging that India’s next step must be manufacturing and packaging leadership.
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Panelists provided clear, actionable steps for youth and businesses:
1. Identify real-world problems and design tech-based solutions.
2. Engage in specialised skilling programs to meet semiconductor and digital economy demands.
3. Collaborate with startup incubators like Assam Startup - The Nest for mentorship, prototyping, and market access.
4. Existing businesses should pivot towards tech and digital integration to tap into new opportunities.
Summing up the session, moderator Mukul Das with other experts called upon students, entrepreneurs, institutions, and businesses to collaborate and innovate together to discover Assam’s digital potential.
“This is more than a business opportunity — it is an economic revolution that can put Assam on the global technology map,” the panel concluded.
As Assam steps into the semiconductor era, experts at Northeast Business Conclave 2.0 have made it clear: the region can emerge as India’s next digital powerhouse—if it prepares, invests, and innovates today.
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