Bhoomika Singh
Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed to catalyse the Indian semiconductor ecosystem by government bodies and leading semiconductor industry players and associations. In addition, several design and co-development agreements were announced at the Semicon India Conference 2022, which was held in Bengaluru from the 29th of April to the 1st of May 2022 by the Ministry of Electronics and IT.
These are the following MoUs signed.
- MoU between SONY India and DIR-V SHAKTI Processor for the systems/products developed by SONY.
- MoU between ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU) and DIR-V SHAKTI Processor for development of high-performance SoCs (System on Chip) and Fault-Tolerant Computer Systems.
- MoU between Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Department of Atomic Energy and DIR-V SHAKTI Processor for the systems/products developed by IGCAR.
- MoU between Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and DIR-V VEGA Processor for Rudra Server board, cyber security, and language solutions.
- MoU between Centre for Development of Telematics and DIR-V VEGA Processor for the 4G/5G, Broadband, IoT/ M2M solutions.
These MoUs were mostly related to Digital India Risc-V programme announced prior to the conclave. This programme aims to develop microprocessors and industry-grade silicon and design win. DIR-V will be witnessing partnerships between academia, start-ups, and multinationals to make India not only a talent hub as well as a supplier of RISC-V SoC (System on Chips) to the world for mobile devices, servers, IoT, automotive, microcontrollers, etc. Where RISC-V is an open and free ISA that will enable a new era of processor innovation through collaboration.
Moreover, an additional intent of MoU was announced between IISc Bangalore and SEMI, the USA for building core competence of quantum technologies – multi-qubit superconducting quantum processors, photonic processors, diamond-based magnetometers, lab-level quantum-secured communication networks etc.
Speaking of the industry growth, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Electronics & IT said,” There has been an exponential growth in electronics production in India. The sector has grown to fulfil domestic demand and export globally. This is fueling the demand for microprocessors and chips. Our startup ecosystem is replete with some of the best minds in technology and I am confident that our startups will drive the next wave of innovation, leading India’s digital economy. Our design and innovation ecosystem is robust and thriving and I am certain our next wave of unicorns will be from this sector.”
Several Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) were also signed on the first day, including those between SEMI and ELCINA, CDAC and Qualcomm, and AICTE and SEMI and ISM. IESA also released an industry report titled ‘Semiconductor Manufacturing Supply Chain – India’s Opportunity in the Global Market.’
