Centre charts semiconductor roadmap, eyes 7 nanometers chips by 2030

Globally, IBM has teamed up with Japan’s Rapidus Corporation along with Toyota, Denso and NEC Corporation to establish a research lab in Japan, targeting sub-2 nm chip fabrication

The Centre has unveiled a detailed roadmap aimed at enabling India to manufacture advanced 7-nanometre (nm) chips within the next five to seven years, Business Standard reported.

Currently, India’s semiconductor journey is being led by the Tata group, which is establishing the country’s first wafer fabrication facility in Dholera with an investment of about Rs 91,000 crore. The project will begin with production of chips at 28 nm and above.

A senior official at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) confirmed the long-term plan: “We already have a clear road map to enable companies to manufacture 7 nm and above chips within the next five to seven years. We are tying up the technology and talks are under way. Our 15-year plan is aimed at making India a global player in this space.”

According to the report, discussions have been held with global technology leaders such as IBM and Belgium-based IMEC, a leading nanoelectronics R&D hub. IBM is also expected to support the India Semiconductor Mission by helping set up a domestic research centre, providing expertise in areas like advanced packaging, logic, design, and intellectual property.

Globally, IBM has teamed up with Japan’s Rapidus Corporation along with Toyota, Denso and NEC Corporation to establish a research lab in Japan, targeting sub-2 nm chip fabrication. Separately, TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, announced plans to begin 2 nm chip production in Japan by 2027.

Back home, India has approved three semiconductor manufacturing facilities, including Tata’s Rs 91,000 crore fab in partnership with Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. In all, 10 semiconductor projects worth about Rs 1.75 lakh crore have been cleared, with the government earmarking Rs 75,000 crore as incentives.

The government has also rolled out India’s first dedicated semiconductor design programme (SMDP) to strengthen domestic R&D, tying up with firms like TSMC and Intel to build a process roadmap that stretches out to 2036 — with the long-term goal of positioning India among the world’s top five chipmakers.