Centre finalises 25 priority products for indigenous semiconductor IPs; SCL modernisation to go to Cabinet soon

The Centre has finalised 25 priority semiconductor products that will be supported under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) to accelerate the creation of indigenous intellectual property (IP), IT and Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.

“These products span high-value low-volume, mid-value mid-volume, and high-volume low-value categories. The matrix has been finalised and will be supported as part of the mission,” Vaishnaw noted, adding that domestic IP will help India transition from a manufacturing hub to an innovation partner in the global supply chain.

The minister also stressed that exports are integral to India’s semiconductor strategy. “The 10 projects approved so far are going to produce for India and also for the world,” he said.

Looking ahead, ISM 2.0 will focus on ecosystem partnerships and full chipset development. “A significant part of the next phase will go into supporting equipment makers, material manufacturers, and developing chipsets designed here, with IP rights residing in India,” Vaishnaw explained.

He added that the design ecosystem is growing faster than expected, with more than 28 startups now moving from concept to product stage under the design-linked incentive scheme. Startups are ready with IoT chipsets, camera SoCs, and consumer and industrial chips, he said, while IIT Madras recently released its own microcontroller.

On the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) in Mohali, Vaishnaw said modernisation is progressing rapidly and will soon go to the Cabinet. The upgraded facility will not only expand production but also serve as a testing hub for researchers and startups. “We need a facility where new products designed in India can be validated before commercial production,” he said.

Vaishnaw emphasised that global trust in India stems from its respect for IP rights and collaborative approach. “We have always gone to the world as a partner, co-developer, and co-producer, aiming for win-win outcomes,” he said.