India’s revolutionary semiconductor program evolved into a business ready innovative solution
India has achieved a thoughtful leadership position in the transformational innovations, especially through the emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, which has secured our nation to rank third position in the Global AI Vibrancy Index in the present decade.
India has thoughtfully, strategically, and smartly designed the electronic manufacturing systems, especially the semiconductor program, through the launch of the Indian Semiconductor Mission, which makes our nation robust and self-reliant. Semiconductor program, which was launched as a policy at microlevel 5 years back has grown to huge macro level through the establishment of multi-fabrication units and innovations across our nation. The design and development of pathbreaking innovation-Vikram 3201, launched by Semiconductor Laboratory, Mohali in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO, is a testament for India’s Semiconductor Mission, which the seed was sown 5 years back has now nurtured as a visible product.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, MeitY has crafted the pioneering policies and schemes such as Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS), Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC) and Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS), which facilitates the swadeshi and vocal for local domestic manufacturing of electronic components. It also creates innovative MSME electronics clusters across the nation there by strengthening the electronics supply chain. This in turn would push the One District One Product (ODOP) program across the different districts.
Most importantly, these comprehensive electronic manufacturing schemes attract the global semiconductor players to open and handshake businesses with our nation. Global leaders like Kaynes, Foxconn and Micron have chosen our nation to be the homeland and right destination to fabricate and manufacture semiconductor chips because of the diversified think tank and skilled talent pool, digital public infrastructure and most importantly the Ease-of-Doing Business, Ease-of-Innovation, and Ease-of-Access. These initiatives would lead to a compound effect to achieve global position in the economy. Kaynes Technology has launched its state-of-the-art semiconductor plant in Sanand, Gujarat, which marks the beginning of revolutionary semiconductor chip production in India.
Indian states are consciously working to draft the semiconductor policy, especially Delhi, the national capital, is aiming to create a hub for semiconductor innovation, thereby paving the way for design, research, and integrated allied activities like employment opportunities, student internships.
India is poised to achieve and capture the global semiconductor market through the in-house fabrication of semiconductor chips with the support of ten manufacturing plants spread across the different valleys. The pioneering schemes of Government of India, such as production linked initiative, design linked initiatives give a great push and adds strength to our semiconductor innovation and manufacturing systems. India is making a strong hold by successfully laying the foundation for the Heterogeneous Integration Packaging Solutions project, promoted by 3D Glass Solutions in the state of Odisha.
International industries are focusing on opening Global Capability Centres across different states, which will pave the way for research and innovation leading to technology and engineering product developments. Indian Semiconductor Mission is creating avenues for academic institutions across the nation to develop custom-designed technologies for various problem statement with the help of world-class design tools and students who are the think tank providers.
Indian Semiconductor Mission also expected to boost the Defence program — DRDO Industry Academia (DIA-CoE) through several defence research verticals across different institutions. The best used case study is the Flexible Electronics program launched by MietY in collaboration with IIT Kanpur as National Centre for Flexible Electronics. The centre focuses on developing applications for Flexible Electronics
- Stealth and Camouflage
- Flexible Antenna
- Energy Harvesting
The semiconductor chips developed in India would meet the demands of Defence missile, Soldier in the fields as well. The National Semiconductor program is interlinked with the National critical mission, which facilitates Rare Earth Elements and Rare Earth Permanent Magnets as well. The chips developed in India could be integrated with artificial intelligence, leading to develop high performance super-computing AI chips. Startups like Sarvam AI could develop custom-designed AI chips for healthcare, defence and smart farming. The recent applications of semiconductor chips are extended to electro-optic technology, which could find potential applications for space explorations.
Sector Skill Council, especially the Electronics Sector Skill Council, offers cutting-edge skill programs through Digital Skill Hubs. Semi-conductor Laboratory (SCL), Mohali, is collaborating with academic institutions to open avenues for students to perform internships and project-based learning.SCL also encourages institutions for laboratory visits which will enhance the knowledge and information like clean room facilities.
The state-of-the-art academiconline program launched by IIT Madras on BSEl ectronic Sciences creates ample opportunities for students to enroll without JEE Mains / Advanced. This program would give a space for students to explore opportunities in semiconductor industries. MeitY has successful conducting the skilling program through Indian Nano Electronics Users Program INUP i2i through which the students and faculty members would get hands-on learning to design and fabricate MEMS in the clean room facilities available at the Indian Institute of Science, IISc Bengaluru, Indian Institute of Technology, IIT Bombay and the Nanoscale Research Facility at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Delhi).
India has brilliantly designed the semiconductor program, which plays a vital role in pushing different stakeholders of our nation through a custom-designed spectrum of innovations, products, technologies to become Aatmanirbhar Bharat and marching towards Viksit Bharat@2047.
Author is a Head, Institute Industry Interface Program, Hindustan College of Science and Technology, Mathura; Views presented are personal.
