Subhasish Chakraborti

🚀 BITSILICA Contribution to India’s C2S Milestone Under the Government of India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Chip2Startup (C2S) program, Osmania University, CHAITANYA BHARATHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, and BITSILICA have successfully developed and delivered two “Made in India” chips — C2S0005 and C2S0009. This marks a significant achievement in strengthening India’s academic capabilities in semiconductor design and nurturing future-ready talent. BITSILICA is proud to have contributed as the industry partner, enabling this success through technical guidance, design expertise, and close collaboration with both institutions. By bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world silicon development, this partnership reflects the true spirit of the C2S scheme. We extend our appreciation to Prof Chandra Sekhar Paidimarry, Principal of Osmania University, and Mohd Ziauddin Jahangir, Assistant Professor at CBIT, whose leadership and commitment were instrumental in this achievement. This milestone reinforces how industry–academia collaboration can accelerate India’s semiconductor journey. We remain grateful to Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi for his vision in making India a global semiconductor hub, and to the C2S program for creating a platform that empowers such partnerships. The Amrit Kaal of India’s semiconductor industry has begun, and BITSILICA is honored to play its role as an enabler in this transformative mission. #SemiconIndia #BITSILICA #MadeInIndia #C2S #ChipDesign #Semiconductor #AcademiaIndustryCollaboration

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✤ Indian Non-Commercial Semiconductor Manufacturing Facilities ✤ Beyond the big commercial players, India's strategic chip capabilities are being forged in government labs and academic institutions. This is the foundation of our tech sovereignty.  Here are some key facilities driving this forward:  • ISRO - Indian Space Research Organization - SCL (Mohali): Space and defense-grade microelectronics, including India's indigenous 'Vikram' microprocessor.  • Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) - GAETEC (Hyderabad): Specializes in Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs) for defense.  • Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) - STARC (Bengaluru): Develops Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) devices for advanced defense applications.  • Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (Chennai): A key player in the indigenous SHAKTI processor project and home to the Centre for NEMs and Nanophotonics.  • Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) Lab (Bengaluru): A national nanofabrication hub supporting research in nano-scale technologies like IoT and photonics.  • Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay Nanofabrication Facility (Mumbai): A national R&D center focused on strategic semiconductor technologies.  This is how India Semiconductor Mission is building a robust, self-reliant semiconductor ecosystem from the ground up.  #Semiconductors #MakeInIndia #DeepTech #Innovation #DefenseTech #ISRO #DRDO #Academia #StrategicAutonomy

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What are Previous attempts to setup a semiconductor industry in India? 1) Early State-Led Efforts (1970s–1990s) Semiconductor Complex Ltd (SCL), Mohali (1976/1984): • Set up to build CMOS ICs mainly for government/defence. • Initially produced 5–10 µm devices. • A 1989 fire destroyed much of the fab; partial recovery took years. • Later upgraded with limited 0.8 µm and 0.18 µm lines, still small-scale and mostly captive to ISRO/DRDO. Other Defence/Strategic Fabs: • SITAR/GAETEC (Hyderabad): Small GaAs/CMOS lines for MMICs and defence chips. • Focused on radar, aerospace and not commercial volumes. Outcome: Provided technical know-how but too niche to seed a commercial ecosystem. 2) Early Private OSAT & Discrete Players (1980s–2000s) • CDIL (1964): Among India’s oldest semiconductor companies (transistors, diodes). • SPEL Semiconductor (Chennai, 1988): First dedicated OSAT/assembly plant. Still active today with low-volume packaging. • Continued design presence: Texas Instruments opened a Bangalore design center in 1985; this seeded India’s chip design talent, though no fabs. 3) Fab City and SemIndia Era (Mid-2000s) • 2005–2006: Andhra Pradesh launched “Fab City” in Hyderabad (1,200-acre park). • SemIndia plan: $3 billion fab (65 nm CMOS) with AMD support; also an ATMP line. • 2008 financial crisis and inability to secure funds led to collapse. Other proposals: • Hynix, Intel, STMicro, and Freescale had preliminary talks but no firm commitments. • Policy support: Government launched SIPS (Special Incentive Package Scheme) in 2007 – 20–25% capex subsidy. • Only a handful of applications came; most did not close financing. Outcome: Fab City eventually became an EMS/solar hub, not semiconductors. 4) Second Wave — 2012–2019 (Fab Consortia and M-SIPS) Modified SIPS (M-SIPS) 2012: Incentives broadened to entire ESDM sector. • Two major fab proposals approved in 2014: 1. Jaypee Group – IBM – TowerJazz (Greater Noida): $4–5 bn fab, planned 65/45 nm logic. 2. Hindustan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (HSMC) – STMicro – Silterra (Gujarat): $5.6 bn, also 65/45 nm. • Both got Cabinet approval but failed to secure investors and customers; by 2017–2019 Jaypee exited and HSMC’s LoI was cancelled. Outcome: Fabs again failed; India’s focus shifted to design and assembly. 5) Lessons and Gaps Identified (2000s–2019) • Capital intensity mismatch: $5–10 bn fabs need anchor customers and large-scale financing; global downturns killed investor appetite. • Demand pipeline weak: India lacked domestic IDMs/large foundry customers. 6) Current Third Wave (2021–present) (for context) • Semicon India Programme (2021): ₹76,000 crore (~$10 bn) scheme with better fiscal terms: • Up to 50% capex support for fabs, ATMP/OSAT, compound semiconductors. • Dedicated India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) to coordinate. Add more milestones in this. ~~~~~~ If you are looking to invest in semiconductors and need expert insights, drop us a DM.

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India’s Semiconductor Ecosystem — The Next Big Opportunity for New Entrepreneurs India’s semiconductor story is finally turning into reality. Nearly 10 foundry and OSAT projects have been approved by the government — some of them already planning on a large-scale manufacturing setup. This is a remarkable start. But as we look deeper, there’s still a missing link in the ecosystem. Most of these upcoming fabs and OSATs are dependent on imported raw materials, consumables, and equipment to establish their manufacturing capabilities. That’s where the next wave of opportunities lies. 👉 India should not only focus on “Make in India” chips, but also “Make in India” semiconductor equipment, materials, and consumables. For new entrepreneurs and startups, this is the moment to explore: -> Local manufacturing of semiconductor equipment, tools, and parts -> Development of raw materials, mold compounds, leadframes, bonding wires, chemicals, gases -> Automation, robotics, and AI solutions for semiconductor manufacturing -> Testing, calibration, and spare parts services to support fabs and OSATs The semiconductor ecosystem is not just about fabs — it’s about everything that makes a fab and OSAT run. At Suchi Semicon, we’ve seen firsthand how much potential exists for Indian suppliers and innovators to become part of this growing ecosystem. The next 5 years will define whether India becomes truly self-reliant in semiconductors — not just assembling chips, but building the entire value chain from within. #Semiconductor #MakeInIndia #OSAT #Foundry #Entrepreneurship #ElectronicsManufacturing #IndiaSemiconductorMission #AtmanirbharBharat #StartupIndia

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