AI Generated Summary
- With detailed briefings from SCL scientists and a clear commitment from the Centre, the visit signalled a renewed push to position the Mohali facility as a cutting-edge, globally competitive semiconductor R&D and manufacturing platform.
- In a significant boost to India’s semiconductor ambitions, the Union Government on Friday announced a ₹4,500-crore investment aimed at modernising and expanding the Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL) in Mohali.
- During a visit to the facility, Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Ravneet Singh Bittu emphasised that the SCL would remain firmly under government ownership, calling it a cornerstone of the country’s technological future.
In a significant boost to India’s semiconductor ambitions, the Union Government on Friday announced a ₹4,500-crore investment aimed at modernising and expanding the Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL) in Mohali. During a visit to the facility, Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Ravneet Singh Bittu emphasised that the SCL would remain firmly under government ownership, calling it a cornerstone of the country’s technological future.
The ministers confirmed that the Centre has formally sought 25 acres of adjoining land from the Punjab Government to support the next stage of growth. “The sooner the land is made available, the faster the expansion can begin,” Vaishnaw said, underscoring the urgency of scaling up operations as part of the India Semiconductor Mission.
Vaishnaw, who oversees key portfolios including Electronics and IT, said the planned overhaul would represent the most extensive upgrade in the SCL’s history. The investment will revamp production lines, introduce advanced tools and increase fabrication capacity up to a hundredfold. “A major transformation is ahead. SCL will be modernised, not privatised,” he said, adding that the facility is vital to India’s long-term semiconductor roadmap drawn up under the Prime Minister’s guidance.
During the visit, the ministers also handed over 28 student-designed semiconductor chips created under the Chips to Start-up initiative, bringing the total fabricated at SCL to 56. Vaishnaw noted that over 300 universities are now designing chips using world-class electronic design automation tools provided through government support—a development he described as unprecedented globally.
In another major step towards strengthening India’s semiconductor talent pipeline, the ministers inaugurated two new training and demonstration centres: the Semiconductor Process Gallery, which offers students a clean-room, fab-like experience, and the Abhyuthanam Training Block, which houses both digital and hands-on modules, including fire and safety training. These facilities, Vaishnaw said, will serve as a “critical pillar” in building a highly skilled workforce.
Outlining the strategic roadmap, the Minister said India is deepening its self-reliance in advanced electronics through a partnership involving CDAC, DRDO and other national agencies. This consortium will focus on indigenous chip design, product development and manufacturing, with the SCL positioned as a key R&D engine. “The message to the entire team is clear: SCL will remain a government institution and will lead India’s semiconductor journey,” he told The Tribune.
The upgraded SCL is expected to support both research and commercial production, acting as a world-class training hub while hosting a high-capacity fabrication line under the proposed ‘Semicon 2.0’ programme, for which internal consultations are already under way within the Ministry of Electronics and IT.
The ministers stressed that the expansion would feed directly into India’s fast-growing semiconductor ecosystem, which underpins critical sectors ranging from healthcare and transportation to defence and space. “In just four years, India has moved from vision to reality,” Vaishnaw said. “The world now believes India is on track to become a major semiconductor hub.”
With detailed briefings from SCL scientists and a clear commitment from the Centre, the visit signalled a renewed push to position the Mohali facility as a cutting-edge, globally competitive semiconductor R&D and manufacturing platform.
