New Delhi, India – In a remarkable stride towards technological advancement, India is poised to witness the inauguration of its maiden electronic chip manufacturing facility within the next year, as confirmed by Union Telecom and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The government has earmarked an initial investment of USD 10 billion to foster the development of a semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem within the nation, which encompasses the establishment of a wafer fabrication plant. These wafer fabrication plants serve as the foundational units for producing physical chips utilized in cutting-edge electronic devices.
Vaishnaw expressed, “Our focus is on niche areas where we can attain global prominence. Semiconductors have become pivotal in the domains of telecom and electric vehicles (EV). By concentrating on the creation and production of chips used in these domains, we aspire to attain global leadership in both sectors.”
He underlined that efforts are diligently directed towards these burgeoning domains.
“In the coming months, we anticipate significant accomplishments. This encompasses all aspects, from wafer fabrication, design, and manufacturing, culminating in a comprehensive ecosystem,” stated Vaishnaw.
When asked about a potential timeline for this achievement, the minister remarked, “In under a year, we envisage tangible progress.”
Vaishnaw emphasized that with the commendable investment of the US-based storage chip manufacturer Micron in India, the international community has developed a profound confidence in India’s capabilities.
Memory chip manufacturer Micron has recently embarked on the construction of a semiconductor assembly plant in Sanand, Gujarat. In June, the company unveiled its plans to establish a semiconductor assembly and testing facility in Gujarat, entailing a total investment of USD 2.75 billion (approximately Rs 22,540 crore).
Micron’s contributions will amount to a maximum of USD 825 million for the plant’s phased establishment, with the remaining investment stemming from both the central and state governments.
The minister also divulged that the component suppliers affiliated with Micron are in advanced stages of identifying suitable land in collaboration with the state government.
According to Vaishnaw, “Based on the information I have received, five companies partnering with Micron are in the process. The identification of land is currently underway. One of their primary ecosystem partners, responsible for substrate production, is already involved in the land allocation process.”
The Indian government has established a timeline for the commercial deployment of the first indigenous chipsets by 2023-24 through the Digital India RISC-V program.
Under the aegis of the Ministry of Electronics and IT, two microprocessors named Shakti (32-bit) and Vega (64-bit) have been developed by IIT Madras and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), employing an Open Source Architecture as part of the Microprocessor Development Program.
Vaishnaw affirmed that the government is actively involved in promoting the development of 4-5 key components where India can emerge as a global hub, not only to fulfill domestic requirements but also to cater to global demands.
