We aim to become preferred Indian partner for international fabs: Orbit & Skyline

Orbit & Skyline is a pioneer in providing end-to-end semiconductor services globally. With over 15 years of experience and a team of 500+ skilled engineers, it empowers clients through customized turnkey fab solutions, OEM engineering expertise, and full lifecycle support.

Rakesh Prabhakar, COO, Orbit & Skyline, tells us more. Excerpts from an interview: 

DQ: Can you briefly walk us through the company’s journey and where it stands today in India’s semiconductor landscape?

Rakesh Prabhakar: Orbit & Skyline was born out of a deep recognition: that India’s ambition to become a semiconductor powerhouse needed more than policy; it needed execution muscle. 

Over the years, we’ve built a comprehensive suite of mission-critical capabilities that support wafer fab operations from end to end. From tool installation and facility setup to equipment engineering, process stabilization, and preventive maintenance, we offer what the ecosystem often overlooks. 

While global vendors have a limited footprint in India, our team of over 500+ highly specialized engineers is actively filling the gap. Today, we’re proud to be a vital part of India’s emerging semiconductor backbone, trusted by OEMs, fabs, and government stakeholders alike.

DQ: What inspired Orbit & Skyline to invest so deeply in semiconductor solutions, especially at a time when India was still finding its footing in this sector?

Rakesh Prabhakar: Our leadership had the foresight to understand that semiconductor manufacturing isn’t just about fabs, but about the invisible infrastructure that enables them. We saw the lag in services, the absence of a robust supply chain, and the urgent need for skilled talent. That’s what drove our commitment. 

Even when the market was nascent, we chose to invest in building long-term capabilities across field engineering, tool lifecycle management, and complex fab processes. We believed that by solving India’s ground-level challenges, we could help accelerate its ambitions, and today, that bet is paying off.

DQ: What, in your view, defines a ‘real’ fab, and what makes your approach different?

Rakesh Prabhakar: A real fab isn’t just a building with cleanrooms and tools. It’s a living system where engineering, materials, talent, and logistics work in perfect synchrony. Often, the conversation in India has focused on bringing the first fab to life. 

But, our approach goes deeper: we ask, who will run it? Maintain it? Optimize it? What happens when a part fails or when a process drifts out of spec? Our difference lies in answering those questions. We’re not just thinking about capital expenditure; we’re building the operational muscle required to run fabs efficiently, sustainably, and independently.

DQ: How is Orbit & Skyline aligning its mission with national priorities like "Make in India", "Digital India," and the "Semiconductor Mission"?

Rakesh Prabhakar: All three initiatives converge on a common goal: self-reliance through innovation and industrial strength. Orbit & Skyline directly supports this vision by developing indigenous capability in semiconductor manufacturing services. 

Whether it's localizing tool maintenance, offering India-based engineering support, or manufacturing critical components through our Centre of Excellence, we’re ensuring that fabs in India can reduce their dependency on overseas vendors. 

Our Centre of Excellence also addresses the talent gap, in line with the Digital India vision, by preparing a new generation of fab-ready engineers. It’s about building depth, not just infrastructure.

DQ: What are some recent milestones or partnerships that reflect your progress in enabling India’s fab ecosystem?

Rakesh Prabhakar: One of our key milestones has been the operationalization of our Centre of Excellence, a one-of-its-kind platform combining application labs, engineering innovation, hands-on training, and a precision manufacturing facility, all under one roof. 

We’ve also built strategic collaborations with global OEMs, enabling us to support LAM legacy tools and supply-chain needs directly from India. Additionally, we’ve been working closely with state governments and central missions to contribute to policy frameworks and workforce development initiatives. These partnerships reflect not just our technical strength but also our commitment to nation-building.

DQ: Talent is often a bottleneck in high-tech manufacturing. How is Orbit & Skyline contributing to workforce development and skill-building in this space?

Rakesh Prabhakar: We’ve taken a proactive approach by investing heavily in training infrastructure and content. Our training facility within the CoE is designed to simulate a fab environment, offering real-world modules on tool handling, cleanroom protocols, and process control. 

We also run industry-aligned certification programs that prepare graduates and lateral hires to become productive from day one. Furthermore, we’re in discussion with academic institutions and skill councils to co-develop a curriculum tailored for semiconductor operations. Our goal is to ensure that as fabs scale, India will never run short of skilled professionals to run them.

DQ: What challenges do you foresee in scaling India’s semiconductor capabilities, and how is your team addressing them?

Rakesh Prabhakar: The challenges are layered. There’s the immediate need for infrastructure, but also a deeper need for ecosystem maturity, stable supply chains, long-term vendor commitments, and a skilled, reliable workforce. 

Global players are still cautious about investing in India-specific capabilities, which leaves operational gaps that need urgent attention. Our response has been to build a robust local platform that combines global engineering standards with deep regional understanding. By localising operations, enhancing turnaround times, and reducing 
cost and risk for fabs, we’re actively bridging the execution gap.

DQ: What’s next for Orbit & Skyline? What should we look out for in the next couple of years?

Rakesh Prabhakar: We’re gearing up for scale. Over the next 24 months, you’ll see us deepen our manufacturing footprint, expand our Centre of Excellence, and launch new services tailored to advanced nodes and compound semiconductors. We’re also investing in R&D around legacy tool innovation, software interface emulation, and precision parts manufacturing. 

On the global front, we aim to become the preferred Indian partner for international fabs looking to de-risk and diversify their service and engineering needs. In short, we’re not just building for today, we’re laying the foundation for India’s semiconductor future.