India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 focuses on design, talent

The second phase of the mission aims to encourage Indian design companies and startups to move beyond services and build market-ready semiconductor products

Metro India News | benguluru

The upcoming India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0 will place strong emphasis on indigenous chip design, building a complete semiconductor ecosystem, and nurturing skilled talent, Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Saturday.

Speaking at a Qualcomm event in Bengaluru, Vaishnaw said the second phase of the mission aims to encourage Indian design companies and startups to move beyond services and build market-ready semiconductor products. He noted that the government wants Indian firms to evolve into global deep-tech leaders by converting innovation into scalable commercial products.

The minister said chip design would be the top priority under ISM 2.0, alongside efforts to productise designs and take them to global markets. He highlighted the role of startups in driving innovation and said the government would support them in entering advanced technology domains.

Vaishnaw also reiterated the government’s commitment to semiconductor manufacturing, stating that India is working towards producing advanced chips, including those at the 2-nanometer node level. He was addressing the gathering at an event where Qualcomm announced a 2-nanometer chip developed in India.

Another key focus area under ISM 2.0 will be building a robust semiconductor ecosystem. This includes bringing equipment makers, chemical suppliers, gas manufacturers and yield-improvement specialists into the country to support fabrication and design activities.

Talent development will form the third major pillar of the mission. Vaishnaw said India has made progress in creating a broad talent base for the semiconductor sector, with education and training initiatives helping to strengthen the pipeline.