IIT Bhubaneswar to Launch Rs 45-Crore Semiconductor Research Lab

Quick Summary

• IIT Bhubaneswar Research Lab: IIT Bhubaneswar will establish a research lab with an investment of Rs 45 crore in SicSem’s semiconductor unit.
• SiCSem Semiconductor Unit: SicSem is collaborating with Clas-SiC Wafer Fab (UK) to set up India’s first commercial Silicon Carbide (SiC) compound semiconductor fab in Info Valley, Odisha.

– Project investment: Rs 2,066 crore.
– Annual capacity: 60,000 SiC wafers; Packaging capacity: 96 million units.

• Applications: Products from this fab will support missiles, defense equipment, EVs, railway systems, fast chargers, data centers, consumer appliances and solar power inverters.
• Major Investments & Support: Intel and Lockheed Martin are key investors; Union IT Minister described the plant as “the most advanced plant in the world.”
• India Semiconductor Mission (ISM):

– Four new semiconductor manufacturing projects approved with a total investment of Rs 4,600 crore.
– Locations include Odisha (2), Punjab (1), Andhra Pradesh (1). Overall aim is to bolster domestic chip production under ISM’s vision of self-reliance.
– These projects promise to generate over 2,000 skilled jobs directly.
– The cumulative ISM portfolio now stands at investments worth Rs 1.6 lakh crore across six states.

Indian Opinion Analysis

India’s recent approvals for new semiconductor plants represent a strategic milestone toward building self-reliance in chip manufacturing-an area critical for advancing both its technology and defense sectors. The establishment of India’s first commercial Silicon carbide compound fab through international collaboration underscores the country’s efforts to bring cutting-edge technologies domestically while attracting global investment from firms like Intel and Lockheed Martin.

The focus on developing fabs not just for traditional silicon-based chips but also compound semiconductors aligns well with India’s future-oriented goals-it ensures readiness for applications ranging from EVs to renewable energy infrastructure where such chips are integral. Odisha emerging as a hub highlights decentralization advantages that could drive regional growth alongside employment generation.

While these advancements set high expectations for India’s industrial capabilities over time, their successful execution hinges on consistent policy support and timely completion of these complex projects-a point underscored by swift progress timelines shared by officials.India’s push towards becoming a semiconductor powerhouse marks notable progress but demands sustained technological capability-building efforts moving forward.

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