Sanjay Adhikari

𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲. At FITT Forward 2025, Dr Nikhil Agarwal, Managing Director of FITT– Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, announced the launch of the Bharat Byte Program in proud partnership with Cadence CSR. Bharat Byte is a 2.5-year mission-driven incubation model to empower deep-tech startups in semiconductor innovation - providing them with mentorship, infrastructure, EDA tooling, business enablement, and funding support. Each year, two select startups will be incubated and guided towards commercialization. This announcement comes at a historic juncture - as Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently reaffirmed India’s semiconductor sovereignty, with the nation’s first ‘Made-in-India’ chips set to roll out by the end of 2025 and massive investments unlocking skilled jobs across states. 👉 Together, through Bharat Byte, we are not just supporting startups — we are investing in India’s technological self-reliance and global leadership in semiconductors. Preeti Ranjan Panda |Dr Nikhil Agarwall |Tarun Chaturvedi |Gaurav Jain|ANKIT SAXENA |Ashutosh Pastor |Manveen Chadha |Alok Pandey |Namita Gupta |Seema Lamba |Sseema GiiLL #BharatByte #FITTForward2025 #IITDelhi #Semiconductors #DeepTech #StartupIndia #InnovationEcosystem #FITT #CadenceCSR #TechForIndia

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What are Previous attempts to setup a semiconductor industry in India? 1) Early State-Led Efforts (1970s–1990s) Semiconductor Complex Ltd (SCL), Mohali (1976/1984): • Set up to build CMOS ICs mainly for government/defence. • Initially produced 5–10 µm devices. • A 1989 fire destroyed much of the fab; partial recovery took years. • Later upgraded with limited 0.8 µm and 0.18 µm lines, still small-scale and mostly captive to ISRO/DRDO. Other Defence/Strategic Fabs: • SITAR/GAETEC (Hyderabad): Small GaAs/CMOS lines for MMICs and defence chips. • Focused on radar, aerospace and not commercial volumes. Outcome: Provided technical know-how but too niche to seed a commercial ecosystem. 2) Early Private OSAT & Discrete Players (1980s–2000s) • CDIL (1964): Among India’s oldest semiconductor companies (transistors, diodes). • SPEL Semiconductor (Chennai, 1988): First dedicated OSAT/assembly plant. Still active today with low-volume packaging. • Continued design presence: Texas Instruments opened a Bangalore design center in 1985; this seeded India’s chip design talent, though no fabs. 3) Fab City and SemIndia Era (Mid-2000s) • 2005–2006: Andhra Pradesh launched “Fab City” in Hyderabad (1,200-acre park). • SemIndia plan: $3 billion fab (65 nm CMOS) with AMD support; also an ATMP line. • 2008 financial crisis and inability to secure funds led to collapse. Other proposals: • Hynix, Intel, STMicro, and Freescale had preliminary talks but no firm commitments. • Policy support: Government launched SIPS (Special Incentive Package Scheme) in 2007 – 20–25% capex subsidy. • Only a handful of applications came; most did not close financing. Outcome: Fab City eventually became an EMS/solar hub, not semiconductors. 4) Second Wave — 2012–2019 (Fab Consortia and M-SIPS) Modified SIPS (M-SIPS) 2012: Incentives broadened to entire ESDM sector. • Two major fab proposals approved in 2014: 1. Jaypee Group – IBM – TowerJazz (Greater Noida): $4–5 bn fab, planned 65/45 nm logic. 2. Hindustan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (HSMC) – STMicro – Silterra (Gujarat): $5.6 bn, also 65/45 nm. • Both got Cabinet approval but failed to secure investors and customers; by 2017–2019 Jaypee exited and HSMC’s LoI was cancelled. Outcome: Fabs again failed; India’s focus shifted to design and assembly. 5) Lessons and Gaps Identified (2000s–2019) • Capital intensity mismatch: $5–10 bn fabs need anchor customers and large-scale financing; global downturns killed investor appetite. • Demand pipeline weak: India lacked domestic IDMs/large foundry customers. 6) Current Third Wave (2021–present) (for context) • Semicon India Programme (2021): ₹76,000 crore (~$10 bn) scheme with better fiscal terms: • Up to 50% capex support for fabs, ATMP/OSAT, compound semiconductors. • Dedicated India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) to coordinate. Add more milestones in this. ~~~~~~ If you are looking to invest in semiconductors and need expert insights, drop us a DM.

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Samsung Semiconductor India Research Names Rajesh Krishnan as Managing Director Samsung Semiconductor India Research has appointed Rajesh Krishnan as its new Managing Director, marking a significant step in strengthening India’s role in Samsung’s global innovation roadmap. Rajesh is succeeding Balajee Sowrirajan, who played a crucial role in shaping SSIR’s growth across the semiconductor industry. Rajesh has worked with #MotorolaIndia and #HughesNetworkSystems. With over three decades of leadership experience in the semiconductor ecosystem, Rajesh has shaped strategies and built high-performance teams across India and the USA. Over the years, he gained exceptional knowledge in global operations, business transformation, and advancing innovation in the #semiconductor field. His diverse technical background includes computer architecture, compiler design, and telecommunications systems covering mobile, network, and satellite technologies. He has also driven innovation in flash storage solutions for embedded, server, and automotive domains, alongside advancing DDR/HBM technologies critical for #AI innovations. The company shares, “Samsung Semiconductor India Research (SSIR) announced the appointment of Rajesh Krishnan as the new Managing Director… His appointment also underscores Samsung’s commitment to enhancing strategic partnerships and achieving long-term sustainable growth in the ever-evolving semiconductor landscape.” #SamsungSemiconductorIndiaResearch #SSIR #RajeshKrishnan #ManagingDirector #LeadershipUpdate #corporateTrendz

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