Chip Design Center Launched in Noida | 14 May 2025

Why in News? 

The Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology inaugurated India's first 3-nanometer (3nm) chip design centre in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. 

Key Points 

  • Achievement of 3nm technology: 
    • This technology is much more advanced than the existing 7nm and 5nm. 
    • This enables higher performance, lower energy consumption, and greater computing efficiency. 
    • It represents the pinnacle of innovation at the design level, which is now being realised in India. 
    • This centre has been established by Renesas Electronics India, a company of Japanese origin. 
  • Supporting the Government Strategy: 
    • This initiative is part of the Indian government's broader strategy to develop the semiconductor ecosystem. 
    • The government is looking to empower the semiconductor ecosystem by incorporating design, manufacturing, ATMP (Assembly, Testing, Marking, Packaging) and supply of related equipment. 
    • It is being implemented under India's Semiconductor Mission and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. 
  • Global recognition and confidence : 
    • India's semiconductor capabilities are being appreciated at global forums like the World Economic Forum (Davos). 
    • This has increased the confidence of international companies and investors towards India.  

India's Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 

  • Introduction: 
    • ISM was launched in 2021 under the aegis of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) with a total financial outlay of Rs.76,000 crore. 
    • This is part of a comprehensive programme to develop a sustainable semiconductor and display ecosystem in the country. 
    • The objective of this program is to provide financial support to companies investing in the semiconductor, display manufacturing and design ecosystem . 
    • It is envisaged that ISM will act as the nodal agency for efficient, consistent and smooth implementation of the schemes under the leadership of global experts from the semiconductor and display industry . 
  • Ingredients: 
    • Plans to set up semiconductor fabs in India: 
      • It provides financial assistance to eligible applicants for setting up semiconductor fab (manufacturing plant) with the aim of attracting investments for setting up semiconductor wafer fabrication facilities in the country. 
  • Semiconductor chips: 
    • It is a small electronic device made from a semiconductor (silicon or germanium), which serves as the basic building block of most electronic circuits. 
    • These chips can contain billions of microscopic switches on a chip smaller than a fingernail. 
    • The basic component of a semiconductor chip is a silicon wafer built of tiny transistors , which control electric current according to various computational instructions. 
    • It performs various functions, such as processing data , storing information or controlling electronic devices. 
    • They are a vital part of almost every modern electronic device, including smartphones, computers, and integrated circuits.