India’s first chip fabrication unit Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL), Mohali, is set to offer end-to-end support, including fabrication, testing, and packaging, to chip design startups in the country. This assumes significance as currently fabless startups have to tap global foundries to get even limited samples of chips before actual production can start. This not only incurs huge costs but also limits their ability to do failure analysis, testing and identify any challenges in manufacturing or assembly first hand.
“SCL is an IDM (integrated device manufacturer). We know the complete process in producing semiconductors. Our startups need a platform where their designs can be evaluated, they get to know about challenges in assembly and packaging, and how to take the designs to the next level of screening and qualification,” Kamaljeet Singh, director general at SCL, told FE in an interaction.
SCL will offer support to startups with chip designs in 180 nm technology. The fabrication unit in Mohali is also ready to provide a limited production support and assembly and packaging solutions at low or no cost to startups based on the nature of product and intellectual property (IP) generated. SCL is also exploring possibilities to integrate the startups’ chip design solutions into its operations as well if useful. Officials will also meet the startups next month to discuss the capabilities of SCL, its SoCs (system on chips), and portfolio so far.
UPI-like model for cybersecurity on cards; ‘smart’ digital regulation soon, says Ashwini Vaishnaw
‘False, malicious and defamatory’: Madhabi Buch and husband on allegations, say complied with all required disclosures
Transformers & Rectifiers bags order worth Rs 114 crore from RRVPNL
Adani Group rejects allegations concerning Swiss bank accounts, terms them baseless
“The startups will also be offered to develop for us and make IP. We will give a shuttle space to them in our fab and run a multi-product wafer. In that itself, their IP will get created. We will evaluate it and provide end-to-end support,” Singh said.
Multi-product wafer fabrication involves different devices (or integrated circuits, ICs) on the same wafer using the same set of masks. On the 180 nm technology for chip design, Singh said, “The startups should explore 180 nanometres first before moving it to the lower nodes because once they make it in 180 nm their confidence will also get a boost.”
“If the startups want to see in 180 nm how it is performing, they can tap SCL. For the next level, they can take their designs outside,” Singh added. Under the design-linked incentive scheme, the government has so far approved 13 startups for their chip design.
SCL has two fabrication lines — for 6 inch and 8 inch wafers — an ATMP unit, and a compound semiconductor unit. It has been serving strategic sectors like space and satellites, railways, and telecom, among others by supplying them 180 nm chips.
The Centre is looking at an upgradation plan for SCL. While Singh didn’t share details about the modernisation plans, he said, “things are very positive for SCL going forward”. According to Singh, SCL is also ready to share its legacy 1.2 micron semiconductor technology node with other countries as well as domestic companies.
At the Semicon India 2024 event on Wednesday, electronics and IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters that the “upgradation plan of SCL Mohali is ready and will soon take that to the Cabinet for approval”.
In its last term, the government laid a Rs 10,000-crore modernisation plan for SCL. In April, Vaishnaw had told FE that the government will have an upgraded technology for SCL to diversify beyond 180 nm and for that it is looking at proposals from semiconductor companies to modernise the organisation.
The government will soon roll out the request for proposals from companies, who are interested in coming on board as a partner to SCL for its modernisation.
From: financialexpress
Financial News
