Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently elaborated on the efforts made by him and his ministry to develop a comprehensive semiconductor ecosystem in India, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” initiative.
In a video lasting four minutes, shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Vaishnaw detailed the various components involved in this process and the ongoing work to implement the plan.
“The semiconductor ecosystem comprises four main components – Design, fabrication (FAB), assembly-testing-marking-packaging (ATMP), and electronics manufacturing (circuit). Our focus lies on nurturing a skilled talent pool and driving research and development (R&D),” Vaishnaw explained in the video.
He disclosed that the most expensive tools required were Electronic Design Automation (EDA), supplied by multinational corporations like Siemens. Acknowledging the high cost, Vaishnaw mentioned that the government had procured these tools and distributed them to 104 universities across India, including prestigious institutions like the IITs, as well as tier-II and tier-III colleges.
“The most challenging and expensive tools, known as Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools, are provided by companies such as Cadence, Synopsys, and Siemens. These are quite pricey, with a single license costing around Rs 10 crore-15 crore. Therefore, we have collaborated with these companies and provided their EDA tools to 104 universities nationwide,” Vaishnaw explained.
“We have granted licenses and logins not only to the IITs but also to smaller universities so that students can gain practical exposure and training in using these tools. This hands-on experience will enable them to work on live projects, design new mobile chips, and contribute to the emergence of new startups, thereby enriching our talent pool,” Vaishnaw added.
The video garnered numerous comments from users, many of whom praised Vaishnaw for his knowledge of India’s semiconductor ecosystem.
“We are fortunate to have ministers like Ashwini Vaishnaw. It is encouraging to witness such positive changes compared to previous administrations. Credit to Modi for assembling such a visionary team,” one user commented.
“Ministers like Ashwini Vaishnaw are a national asset and should continue serving the nation for as long as possible,” another user expressed.
In summary, Vaishnaw’s video provided valuable insights into the government’s efforts to bolster India’s semiconductor industry, emphasizing the importance of skill development, research, and practical training to nurture a robust ecosystem and promote innovation in the field.
