I will lose my mind if we get a semi-conductor fab equipment startup from a college hackathon:
Indian semiconductor ecosystem: News, Updates & Discussions.
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1 km to 1000 km in just a year! Wow !
Ministry of Science & Technology
National Quantum Mission achieves 1,000-km secure communication milestone in under 3 years of its launch: Dr. Jitendra Singh
Quantum Mission expands startup support to 17, backs 9 new deep-tech ventures
Deep-tech funding gains traction as TDB draws about 100 proposals, BIRAC nears 200 biotech applications
Dr. Jitendra Singh reviews progress off 'Quantum Mission', status of RDI Funding
National Quantum Mission achieves 1,000-km secure communication milestone in under 3 years of its launch: Dr. Jitendra Singh
Quantum Mission expands startup support to 17, backs 9 new deep-tech ventures
Deep-tech funding gains traction as TDB draws about 100 proposals, BIRAC nears 200 biotech applications
Dr. Jitendra Singh reviews progress off 'Quantum Mission', status of RDI Funding
Posted On: 08 APR 2026 5:58PM by PIB Delhi
Under the National Quantum Mission, a 1,000-km quantum communication network—one of the longest in the world—has been successfully demonstrated within less than two years of its launch, marking rapid progress against the mission’s target of achieving 2,000 km over an eight-year period, Union Minister for Science & Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh was informed during a review of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) here today.
The milestone achieved using indigenous technology developed by QNu Labs—a startup supported under the mission and focused on quantum-safe cybersecurity solutions—represents one of the longest quantum key distribution (QKD) deployments globally since the mission’s launch in October 2024. Secretary, DST, Dr. Abhay Karandikar described it as “a landmark advancement in secure quantum communication,” noting that it reflects progress ahead of envisaged timelines.
The development is expected to strengthen secure communication capabilities across defence, financial systems and critical infrastructure, while advancing India’s broader push towards a secure digital ecosystem. The technology, officials noted, is designed to work across challenging terrains, including underwater and underground networks, expanding its potential civilian and strategic applications.
In a parallel push to deepen the country’s quantum ecosystem, the government has expanded support under the National Quantum Mission to nine additional startups, taking the total number of supported ventures to 17. The move is aimed at accelerating indigenous capabilities across quantum computing, communication, sensing and materials. The newly supported startups are working on areas ranging from quantum biosensors for disease detection and photon sensing technologies to quantum positioning systems, atomic memory and precision electronic systems. The newly supported startups include Sense-XT, ORVISSEMI, QuBeats, Quantum AI Global, bloq, GDQ Labs, Quantum Biosciences, Bumble Bee Instruments Pvt. Ltd., and SAS Qute Electronics Pvt. Ltd.
The review also highlighted progress under the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) funding framework, where the Technology Development Board (TDB) and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) are functioning as second-level fund managers. TDB has received over 100 proposals within two months of issuing a call, indicating growing industry interest in research and development financing. Six companies recommended by the investment committee are being taken forward, while additional proposals are under consideration, reflecting increasing participation in government-supported innovation initiatives.
The biotechnology segment, supported through BIRAC, is also witnessing increased activity, with nearly 200 applications received under recent calls, including projects in cancer research, gene therapy and bio-manufacturing.
Officials emphasized the use of new financial instruments such as optionally convertible debt (OCD), designed to support startups without immediate equity dilution and to attract private investment alongside public funding. The government is seeking to ensure both innovation and scalability in emerging sectors such as 6G, advanced manufacturing, space technologies and biotechnology.
During the meeting, Dr. Jitendra Singh underscored the need for transparency, structured evaluation and wider outreach to improve participation and awareness of government-backed R&D funding. He also called for coordinated communication strategies to amplify key scientific achievements, including the quantum milestone, and to position India’s emerging technology ecosystem more prominently.
Senior officials including DST Secretary Dr. Abhay Karandikar, TDB Secretary Rajesh Kumar Pathak and BIRAC Managing Director Dr. Jitendra Kumar were present at the review.
The developments come amid a broader policy push to strengthen India’s deep-tech capabilities through mission-mode programmers, blended financing models and startup support frameworks, with quantum technologies emerging as a key strategic frontier alongside biotechnology and advanced communications.
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2250162®=3&lang=2
Cabinet approves two more semiconductor manufacturing units with cumulative investment of more than Rs. 3,900 crore
India Semiconductor Mission: Momentum accelerates further as India advances into Compound Semiconductor based Mini/Micro LED Display Manufacturing
Posted On: 05 MAY 2026 6:54PM by PIB DelhiThe Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved two more semiconductor projects under India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) which includes country’s first commercial Mini/Micro-LED display facility based on GaN (Gallium Nitride) Technology and a semiconductor packaging facility.
The two approved proposals will set up semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Gujarat with a cumulative investment of around Rs.3,936 crore and are expected to generate cumulative employment for 2,230 skilled professionals.
The details of the two approved proposals are as follows:
- Crystal Matrix Limited (CML) will establish an integrated facility for compound semiconductor fabrication and ATMP in Dholera, Gujarat for manufacturing Mini/Micro-LED display modules. The integrated facility will also provide GaN foundry services, including epitaxy on 6” wafers. The annual proposed production capacity for Mini/Micro-LED Display Panels is 72,000 sq. meters, and for Mini-Micro-LED GaN Epitaxy Wafers is 24,000 sets of RGB wafers. The proposed products will have applications in large displays for TVs and signages/commercial displays, Medium-sized displays for tablets, smartphones, and in-car displays, and Micro-displays for Extended Reality (XR) glasses and smart watches.
- Suchi Semicon Private Limited (SSPL) will be setting up an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility in Surat, Gujarat for manufacturing discrete semiconductors. The proposed production capacity of the Suchi Semicon is 1033.20 million chips per annum. The target applications include power electronics, analog ICs, and industrial systems, serving end markets such as automotive, industrial automation, and consumer electronics.
These would complement the growing world class chip design capabilities coming up in the country which are propelled by design infrastructure support provided by Government to 315 academic institutions and 104 start-ups.
Momentum is building up further in the semiconductor ecosystem in India with the ten approved projects already in various stages of execution. Two projects have already started commercial shipments from India and Two more are expected to start commercial shipments soon.
Delhi: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says, "...Till now, 10 semiconductor units have been approved under the India Semiconductor Mission. Out of them, commercial production has already started in 2... The good thing is that the full capacity of both plants has been booked... the quality of India's production and all kinds of learning curves have now been completed. The decision that has been taken today is a very important decision... You must have seen that all the projects we have approved have been for different sectors, such as electric vehicles, automobiles, mobile phones, memory, and servers. Now, we have the display panel left. The last two projects of ISM 1.0 were approved today."
He adds, "The first project was the display panel. Basically, there are three different types of screens... All three require different technologies. The small screen has AMOLED and OLED technology. The medium screen is LCD, Liquid Crystal Display technology... This is a micro LED, which is a new technology. This is used on big screens... When that research started, a new segment of micro LED came out... We got an opportunity... By collaborating with South Korea, we brought this project. In which the first micro LED fab will be set up in India... Approximately Rs 3,000 crore will be invested in this. In a micro LED, every unit has three different LEDs: RGB, Red, Green, and Blue..."
He adds, "...The second plant that has been approved today is SSPL, Suchi Semicon Private Limited. It is near Surat. It will basically make chips for air conditioners, TVs, laptops, battery management, and all that. It is a Japanese collaboration... with a firm called ROHM in Japan. There are already seven such units. Seven more have been approved. This unit is in the same series...
He adds, "The first project was the display panel. Basically, there are three different types of screens... All three require different technologies. The small screen has AMOLED and OLED technology. The medium screen is LCD, Liquid Crystal Display technology... This is a micro LED, which is a new technology. This is used on big screens... When that research started, a new segment of micro LED came out... We got an opportunity... By collaborating with South Korea, we brought this project. In which the first micro LED fab will be set up in India... Approximately Rs 3,000 crore will be invested in this. In a micro LED, every unit has three different LEDs: RGB, Red, Green, and Blue..."
He adds, "...The second plant that has been approved today is SSPL, Suchi Semicon Private Limited. It is near Surat. It will basically make chips for air conditioners, TVs, laptops, battery management, and all that. It is a Japanese collaboration... with a firm called ROHM in Japan. There are already seven such units. Seven more have been approved. This unit is in the same series...
Display Fab uses GaN wafers. Applications in mil-tech as well.
P.S. Ashwini Vaishnaw seems to be performing good so far. Positive effects of a technocrat. Imagine if we had someone like this instead of Rajnath Singh as Defence Minister.
IAS mafia holding India back. Their grasp at power in India needs to be broken. Real deep state of India.
4th is the tata fab in dholera, 3rd is probably the tata facility in assam
@Gautam Could tata perhaps partner wit intel for their advanced nodes like intel 3 or intel 18a, intel seems pretty eager to expand their IFS and Tata has the money to do this while India has both the current and future demand.
Too early to say.
TATA's roadmap, as I understand, is to start with 28nm node, commercialize, scale up, then move up to 14nm. These two-node fabs will be done in co-operation with PSMC, Taiwan. The chips produced here will mostly cater to power management, consumer electronics, automotive, aerospace, telecom etc. In these areas TATA Group's other companies can be customers.
There are some Linkedin posts that suggested that TATA might move to 7nm for RAM, CPU/GPU, camera SoCs, edge computing ASICs, etc. They have to establish themselves as a high volume/quality supplier to other global companies to build up a solid clientele before they can move to high end chips.
TATA has the financial firepower to build high end fabs, but that alone isn't enough. To make business sense they need to establish themselves in the fab business with the 28-14nm nodes.
TATA was hit hard in the recent chip shortage
Jaguar Land Rover owner Tata Motors feels chip shortage strain
Tata Motors sees losses narrow, but warns that a lack of semiconductors could halve car production.
www.bbc.com
This is cutting-edge stuff.
Here's a primer on Intel's glass core packaging technology:
Basically, it's been in R&D for over a decade at this point, and Intel's plan is to bring this technology to the mass market by around 2030. It appears India will be at least one of the manufacturing centres where these next-gen substrates will be made & exported from.
sure But India has a stated ambition for lower nm nodes. Tata and PSMC have alr sent a proposal to the gov to upgrade the current fab being built to go down to 14nm.
Whether the stated ambition transitions to reality is yet to be seen but clear steps are being taken for this to happen. You have partnerships with IMEC and IBM and now ASML(although this is more for the machines in the current fab). Lets see. We will know approx 5ish years from now ig.
