The Ministry of Electronics & IT announced on Tuesday, that Union Minister for Electronics, Railways, and Information & Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, inaugurated two new semiconductor design centers by Renesas Electronics India in Noida and Bengaluru.
These centers are India’s first dedicated to 3-nanometer (3nm) chip design, marking a significant milestone in India’s semiconductor industry. “India has worked on 7nm and 5nm designs before, but 3nm sets a new standard,” Vaishnaw stated.
About Renesas Electronics
Renesas Electronics is a global leader in embedded semiconductor solutions, with a mission to “Make Our Lives Easier.” The company is known for its expertise in embedded processing, system-level knowledge, and its comprehensive portfolio for industries including automotive, industrial, infrastructure, and IoT. Key product areas include:
- High-performance computing
- Embedded processing
- Analog and connectivity solutions
- Power management
Renesas is advancing its operations in India by establishing design centers in Noida, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad to further its work in the region.
India’s Semiconductor Strategy
Vaishnaw outlined India’s vision for developing a comprehensive semiconductor ecosystem, which includes:
- Chip design and manufacturing
- Assembly, testing, marking, and packaging (ATMP)
- Building supply chains for equipment, chemicals, and gases
He highlighted the growing global confidence in India’s semiconductor sector, citing investments from global firms like Applied Materials and Lam Research. He further noted that the Noida facility plays a crucial role in building a national semiconductor network, leveraging India’s skilled workforce.
Strengthening Education and Skills
To strengthen the semiconductor industry, the government is focusing on semiconductor education. Vaishnaw introduced a new learning kit designed to give engineering students practical hardware experience. The key details are:
- Over 270 academic institutions will receive the kits
- These institutions already use advanced Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software under the India Semiconductor Mission
- The kits combine software and hardware training to prepare industry-ready engineers
Vaishnaw praised the efforts of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) and the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) team for driving the initiative forward. “By integrating hardware and software learning, we’re creating a strong talent pipeline,” he added.
Outlook for Growth
Vaishnaw credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision for positioning semiconductors as a key focus. He remarked, “In just three years, India’s semiconductor sector has evolved from its early stages to an emerging global hub.” He emphasized that the demand for semiconductors will grow rapidly across industries such as:
- Smartphones
- Laptops
- Servers
- Medical devices
- Defense equipment
- Automobiles
Vaishnaw believes this move will significantly advance India’s semiconductor industry.
Renesas’ Role in India
Hidetoshi Shibata, CEO of Renesas Electronics, highlighted India’s increasing significance in the company’s global strategy, noting its substantial contributions to embedded systems, software, and system innovation. Shibata outlined Renesas’ plans to:
- Develop end-to-end semiconductor capabilities, from design to testing
- Support for over 250 academic institutions and startups is provided through initiatives such as the Chips to Startup (C2S) Program and the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme.
Shibata expressed confidence that India’s talent pool and the Indo-Japan strategic partnership will play a pivotal role in reshaping the global semiconductor landscape.