Chips to Start-up (C2S) Programme

Context

In January 2026, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) highlighted the significant progress of the Chips to Start-up (C2S) Programme. The initiative has reached a major milestone with over 1 lakh student enrollments and the successful fabrication of 56 student-designed chips, marking a pivotal shift in India’s indigenous semiconductor design capabilities.

About the News

Background:

Launched in 2022 as part of the broader Semicon India Programme, the C2S initiative aims to transform India from a chip-consumption hub into a chip-designing powerhouse. It addresses the global shortage of semiconductor talent by integrating academic research with industrial application.

Key Achievements (as of Jan 2026):

Chip Fabrication: 56 student-designed chips have been successfully fabricated, packaged, and delivered for testing.
Intellectual Property: Over 75 patents have been filed by participating institutions.
Training Reach: Out of 1 lakh+ enrolled students, approximately 67,000 have completed hands-on training in advanced VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) design.
Institutional Participation: Engagement from nearly 400 organizations, including 305 academic institutions (IITs, NITs, and private universities) and 95 startups.
Infrastructure Usage: Users have logged over 175 lakh hours on shared national EDA (Electronic Design Automation) tools.

Functional Framework of C2S

Nodal Agency: Implemented by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).
Centralized Hub: The ChipIN Centre (Bengaluru) serves as the primary national facility, providing remote access to high-end design tools and hardware.
Fabrication Partner: Student designs are manufactured through shared wafer runs at the Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL), Mohali, typically using 180nm process technology.
SMART Labs: Specialized facilities (like the one at NIELIT Calicut) provide certification and niche technical training.

Key Program Features

Financial Outlay: ₹250 crore over a 5-year period.
Human Resource Targets:
- PhDs: 200 scholars engaged in advanced research.
- Post-Graduates: 7,000 M.Tech (VLSI) and 8,800 M.Tech (related streams).
- Undergraduates: 69,000 B.Tech students.
Technical Access: Shared EDA tools (Cadence, Synopsys, Siemens, etc.), High-Performance Computing (HPC), and FPGA prototyping boards.
Innovation Focus: Aims to incubate 25 semiconductor startups and facilitate 10 technology transfers.

Significance

Addressing Skill Gaps: Builds a strategic talent pipeline to meet the projected global demand for 1 million semiconductor professionals by 2026.
Democratization of Design: Grants students in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities access to expensive tools previously restricted to elite institutions.
Strategic Autonomy: Strengthens Atmanirbhar Bharat by reducing reliance on foreign-owned Intellectual Property (IP) for critical sectors like defense and telecom.
Economic Impact: Contributes to India’s goal of capturing a significant share of the global semiconductor market, projected to reach $1 trillion by 2030.

Challenges

Infrastructure Scaling: While storage and compute power have grown, current fabrication capacity at SCL Mohali needs further expansion to handle higher-volume submissions.
Technology Node Gap: Most student fabrications are currently at the 180nm node, while the industry is rapidly moving toward sub-7nm nodes for advanced applications.
Industry Integration: Ensuring that the 85,000-strong workforce is absorbed into high-value design roles rather than just basic support services.

Way Forward

Advanced Fabrication: Progressing from 180nm to more advanced nodes (e.g., 28nm or 3nm) to align with modern smartphone and AI chip standards.
Global Collaboration: Leveraging dialogues like the India-Japan AI and Semiconductor Strategic Dialogue to facilitate cross-border research and training.
Startup Incubation: Strengthening the link between C2S and the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme to help student projects transition into commercial ventures.

Conclusion

The C2S Programme has moved beyond theoretical training into the tangible production of silicon hardware. By fostering a "Design in India" culture, it ensures that India's contribution to the global semiconductor value chain is defined by innovation and ownership of intellectual property rather than just service delivery.

Chips to Start-up (C2S) Programme