Industrial Policy & Trade Monitor· 2665 actions· ✨ 90 recent

NEDO, under METI's Green Innovation Fund, launched the "Next-Generation Tandem Solar Cell Mass Production Technology Demonstration Project," a JPY 153.3 billion (maximum; JPY 123.2 billion committed for the initial three-year phase) programme running fiscal 2025-2030. Two companies — Kaneka Corporation and Aisin Corp — were selected, each holding mass-production plans exceeding 500MW by fiscal 2030 for perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells. The programme targets conversion efficiency above 30% and a residential generation cost below JPY 12/kWh, aimed at establishing high-yield, high-throughput manufacturing processes ahead of anticipated global scale-up.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) awarded a AUD 25.3 million grant to Sydney-based startup SunDrive Solar to scale and commercialise its copper-metallisation solar cell technology at its Kurnell (New South Wales) facility, taking the process from R&D toward a 300 MW commercial-scale production line. The technology replaces silver — the metallisation material used in conventional solar cell manufacturing — with copper, a direct response to silver prices having nearly tripled over three years while the solar industry now consumes roughly a third of global industrial silver supply. The grant builds on an earlier AUD 14 million ARENA award and is delivered under the Advancing Renewables Program, with equipment partners Maxwell and Vistar supporting production-tool development, cost modelling and module testing.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) awarded a AUD 25 million grant to Melbourne battery-technology startup Relectrify to fast-track commercial deployment of its "AC1" battery energy storage system (BESS), a world-first design that eliminates the separate inverter by using a cell-level battery management system to produce AC power directly. The funding supports up to 100 MWh of AC1 deployments targeting commercial, industrial and small front-of-meter markets, generating operational performance data and reference installations, and builds on ARENA's earlier support for Relectrify's second-life EV-battery work.

NEDO, Japan's national R&D funding agency, newly adopted three companies under the "Next-Generation Solar Cell Demonstration Project" of the Green Innovation Fund, allocating JPY 37.8 billion in support across fiscal 2024-2030 (7 years). The selected companies each hold commercialisation plans at 200-300MW scale by 2030, targeting mass-production technology and field demonstrations of perovskite solar cells (rooftop and building-facade installations, domestic and international). The programme's broader goals are 20GW of perovskite deployment by 2040 and a generation cost of JPY 14/kWh, aimed at strengthening Japan's competitiveness in solar manufacturing.

The Government of Andhra Pradesh issued G.O.Ms.No.30 (ITE&C Promotion Wing, 1 August 2025) establishing the Electronics Components Manufacturing Policy 2025-30, a dedicated sub-national subsidy framework designed as a 100% matching top-up of the central MeitY Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS). The policy targets INR 4,600 crore (~USD 550 million) in state fiscal outlay against a USD 50 billion production target and USD 10 billion investment target, with a goal of 5 lakh (500,000) first-time jobs over the policy period. Priority components span 11 categories including displays, camera modules, multilayer PCBs, lithium-ion cells, magnetics, capacitors, and resistors, channelled into dedicated electronics zones at Sri City, Hindupur, Orvakal, and Kopparthy.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin launched the Tamil Nadu Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (TN-ECMS) on 30 April 2025, making Tamil Nadu the first Indian state to introduce a dedicated state-level electronics components manufacturing subsidy designed to stack on top of the central Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS, notified April 2025). The scheme targets ₹30,000 crore (~USD 3.6 bn) in investment and 60,000 jobs over three to five years, supporting 11 high-growth component categories including HDI/MSAP printed circuit boards, lithium-ion cells, display assemblies, camera modules, SMD passive components, multilayer ceramic capacitors, copper-clad laminates, and capital goods for electronics manufacturing. Investment thresholds are ₹50 crore for basic components and up to ₹250 crore for complex sub-assemblies; matching grants mirror the central ECMS subsidy structure with additional state concessions on stamp duty, land, and electricity costs plus workforce-development incentives.

The Union Cabinet approved the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) on 28 March 2025, notified by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) via Gazette Notification CG-DL-E-08042025-262341 on 8 April 2025. The scheme has an original outlay of Rs 22,919 crore (~USD 2.7bn) over six years (FY26-FY31, with an optional one-year gestation period), raised to Rs 40,000 crore in the Union Budget 2026-27. ECMS targets passive components, multi-layer PCBs, lithium-ion battery cells, camera modules, display assembly, electromechanicals, bare-component sub-assemblies and capital equipment for semiconductor and electronics manufacturing -- the ecosystem feeding the existing large-scale-electronics PLI and the India Semiconductor Mission. The scheme targets investment of Rs 59,350 crore, production of Rs 4,56,500 crore and 91,600 direct jobs.

The Union Cabinet approved the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing on 21 March 2020, with the scheme notified in the Gazette of India on 1 April 2020. Total outlay: Rs 40,995 crore (~$5.5bn) over five years. The scheme extends incentives of 4% to 6% on incremental sales (over FY 2019-20 base year) to eligible companies manufacturing mobile phones (invoice value >= Rs 15,000) and specified electronic components including ATMP units. Approved beneficiaries include Samsung, Foxconn, Wistron, Pegatron, and Indian firms Dixon, Lava, and Bhagwati (Micromax).