Nodal Institute: IIT Bombay

Theme Overview 

Semiconductors form the digital backbone of modern civilization, powering everything from smartphones and computers to electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, critical defence infrastructure and many more. With global semiconductor demand projected to exceed $1 trillion by 2030, nations worldwide are investing heavily to secure supply chain resilience and technological sovereignty. India, already hosting over 20% of the world’s semiconductor design engineers and backed by ambitious government initiatives like the Semicon India Program, is poised to emerge as a global leader not just in design but in manufacturing and innovation. This theme will highlight breakthroughs that address chip design, advanced materials, manufacturing processes, and emerging applications in AI, 5G, quantum computing, and beyond.

Representative Focus Area of Ventures operating in the Domain 

• Semiconductor fabs (foundry / IDM)
• Fabless semiconductor companies designing custom chips for specific applications
• Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tool developers
• Semiconductor manufacturing equipment and materials companies
• Chip packaging, testing, and assembly service providers
• Compound semiconductor (GaN, SiC) technology ventures
• Quantum and neuromorphic computing hardware developers

*Representative examples, not limited to these.

Short Summary

Semiconductors theme highlights India’s chip design and manufacturing capabilities from materials to applications, inviting TRL 3–9 proposals in CMOS logic, memory, RF/power devices, digital/AMS/RF circuits, and MEMS/NEMS. Solutions must be globally novel, address supply chain, performance, and cost challenges, and be supported by a verifiable working prototype.