Rajeev Chandrasekhar stated that the highlight of this research summit is the upcoming announcement of the Bharat Semiconductor Research Centre. This institution will set a global standard and be a collaborative effort between academia, government, private sector, and startups. It will initially be established in conjunction with the Semiconductor Complex Limited.
On Monday, Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, announced that the government is expected to launch the prestigious Bharat Semiconductor Research Centre soon. This centre will collaborate with academia, the government, the private sector, and startups, adhering to global standards. Chandrasekhar announced this during a virtual address at the All India Research Scholars’ Summit 2024, held at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras.
The research facility will be established in a public-private partnership (PPP) mode, involving industry experts and academic institutions. Initially, the centre will be co-located with the Semiconductor Complex Limited, which will later evolve into an independent semiconductor research organization. It aims to compete with and cooperate with leading international institutions like IMEC, MIT Microelectronics, and ITRI, aspiring to become a principal hub of semiconductor research.
Chandrasekhar highlighted the center’s role in fostering a vibrant ecosystem, involving top universities and colleges in India. The focus will be on diverse research areas, including materials, physics, science, transistors, devices, packaging, and system innovation.
Reflecting on the progress of India’s semiconductor ecosystem, which began just two years ago, the minister noted its rapid growth and vibrancy. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of transforming India into a semiconductor nation for the ecosystem’s development. With advancements in design innovation for chips and devices, India has overcome 75 years of missed opportunities.
Chandrasekhar also mentioned the emergence of a product ecosystem in various sectors, such as automotive, industrial, telecom, and computing, driven by design innovation. He highlighted the arrival of process and manufacturing know-how in India, with companies like Tower Semiconductor, Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation of Taiwan, and Micron setting up characterization, testing, and manufacturing units in the country.