Mumbai, April 8 -- Applied Materials, Inc. is sharpening its focus on India's deal pipeline, with its venture arm, Applied Ventures Llc, intensifying efforts to scout and evaluate deep-tech startups in the country as it shows early signs of maturity, its senior executives told Mint.

The US-based semiconductor equipment major is "spending more energy" tracking opportunities in the country than before, as policy support and early-stage investments begin to translate into a stronger pipeline of startups, said Om Nalamasu, chief technology officer (CTO) of Applied Materials.

"With initiatives like ISM 1.0 (India Semiconductor Mission 1.0), ANRF (Anusandhan National Research Foundation), and RDI (research, development, and innovation) funds,...