During the 50th-anniversary celebration of the Maharashtra Academy of Sciences in Pune, Professor Dinesh Amalnerkar highlighted the urgent need for Maharashtra to enhance its semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. He pointed out that states such as Assam, Gujarat, and Telangana are making significant strides in semiconductor technology while Maharashtra has not submitted any applications for semiconductor plants in the past year. Amalnerkar referenced a conversation with Professor Rao Tummala from IBM, who is an advisor to the Government of India under the India Semiconductor Mission, emphasizing the importance of focusing on semiconductor sovereignty in research, technology, and education. He criticized the state's reliance on 'jugaad' innovation, advocating for a shift towards becoming a global hub of high-quality indigenous innovation. Amalnerkar urged that the golden jubilee of the Academy should serve as a launchpad for Maharashtra to lead in the global scientific arena.