MoS Chandrasekhar announces upcoming launch of Semiconductor Research Centre and Digital India futureLABS by the Government.

Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Friday announced that the Center will set up an India Semiconductor Research Center and will soon launch the Digital India futureLABS initiative.

The minister made the announcement in his virtual address at the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA) Vision Summit in Bengaluru. “We will soon establish the Indian Semiconductor Research Center, which will serve as a center for semiconductor innovation, covering all spectrums that will drive the systems of the future,” Chandrasekhar said.

Late last year, after the Indian Semiconductor Research and Development Committee – a panel of officials, industry experts and academics – submitted a comprehensive report, the IT Ministry announced plans to set up a ‘Bharat Semiconductor Research Centre’ in 2024. The announcement featured a collaboration involving industry experts and universities, and the research institute is to be developed in the form of a public-private partnership (PPP).

At the same time, Chandrasekhar emphasized that this facility will act as a foundational institution in India’s growing semiconductor know-how. It is poised to be India’s counterpart to globally renowned entities such as Nanoelectronics Research and Development Center IMEC, Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and MIT Microelectronics Lab, all of which have pioneered cutting-edge technologies globally.

Separately during the IESA event, the minister said, “We will be launching our future program called Digital India futureLABS very soon. This program is a collaboration and partnership involving government laboratories, Indian start-ups, large companies and companies in the electronics sector. It also includes Tier 1 suppliers and automotive platforms focused on designing and innovating future systems.

The Digital India futureLABS initiative aims to enhance India’s electronics and IT sector by creating a research and innovation framework and championing leadership in standards, intellectual property rights (IP), systems and platforms. The focus is on strengthening the domestic innovation ecosystem through cooperation, promoting sustainable growth and nurturing technological development.

Led by C-DAC, futureLABS focuses on key sectors such as automotive, mobility, computing, communications, strategic electronics and industrial IoT. It facilitates partnerships between startups, multinational corporations (MNCs), research and development (R&D) institutions, and academia to jointly develop systems, standards, and IP cores.

Chandrasekhar also highlighted the vision and path laid out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in promoting the electronics manufacturing ecosystem. Reflecting on India’s progress in building a thriving innovation ecosystem, especially in the consumer internet space, the minister highlighted the exponential growth of startups, unicorns and major investments.

He outlined the logical expansion of this ecosystem with a keen focus on deep technology initiatives, including expanding the semiconductor ecosystem.

“As a logical extension of this innovation ecosystem and a reimagining of our national goals, we have looked to our Prime Minister who has created the framework and investment to expand our semiconductor ecosystem.”

“This deep technology initiative ensures that future systems meet the performance requirements set by increased digitization for consumers, businesses and authorities worldwide. The focus spans the entire spectrum including automotive, computing, wireless communications, industrial applications, IoT and strategic technologies,” he noted.