India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 to Emphasise Chip Design and Ecosystem Partnerships, Says Ashwini Vaishnaw

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 will focus on local chip design, productisation, and ecosystem partnerships. The initiative aims to nurture talent and establish semiconductor manufacturing plants targeting 2-nanometer node chips. The government is committed to fostering innovation in design companies and startups, aspiring to create the next Qualcomm from India.

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The government has earmarked Rs 1,000 crore for ISM 2.0 for FY 2026-27. This funding will support industry-led research and training centres to advance technology and develop a skilled workforce. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has confirmed the launch of the second edition of the India Semiconductor Mission in the upcoming fiscal budget.

Focus on Talent Development

Vaishnaw highlighted the importance of talent development, stating that a target of creating 85,000 semiconductor-trained professionals over ten years has been set. Remarkably, within just four years, 67,000 engineers have already been trained. To support this, 315 universities and colleges have received EDA tools for chip design.

The minister emphasised the need to engage equipment, chemical, and gas manufacturers to enhance yield. The goal is to integrate the entire ecosystem under ISM 2.0 within the country. Vaishnaw noted that students are actively designing chips at the semiconductor lab in Mohali, validating their products.

Qualcomm's Role in India's Semiconductor Growth

Speaking at a Qualcomm event, Vaishnaw celebrated the development of a 2-nanometer chip by Qualcomm in India. He noted that India's role has evolved from back-office work to comprehensive product development, including customer product definition and final silicon design.

Qualcomm India President Savi Soin acknowledged India's contribution to global semiconductor innovation. "We look at where the best talent that we have," he said. "A lot of work is done also here in India." Qualcomm's statement highlighted India's expanding role in shaping global semiconductor advancements.

Qualcomm Technologies' engineering teams in India play a crucial role in design implementation, validation, AI optimisation, system integration, and architecture optimisation. These efforts support platforms and products used by billions worldwide.

The minister expressed optimism about India's growing capabilities in semiconductor development. He stressed that the entire process from product definition to validation is now being conducted within India, marking significant progress for the industry.

With inputs from PTI