Startups stole the spotlight at SEMICON India 2025, as PM Modi hailed indigenous chip design breakthroughs, energy-saving innovations, and India’s leap toward full-stack semiconductor self-reliance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi placed startups at the centre of India’s semiconductor ambitions on the second day of SEMICON India 2025. He toured exhibition stalls at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, accompanied by Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State Jitin Prasada.
The Prime Minister visited the Startup Mitra Pavilion, an initiative of India Electronics and Semiconductor Association’s (IESA) Startup Mitra programme. The platform allows young companies in the electronics system design and manufacturing (ESDM) sector to showcase innovations and connect with global leaders, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and investors.
Ashok Chandak, President of SEMI India and IESA, said: “The core objectives of Startup Mitra include structured support to startups through mentorship, promotion of both central and state government policies, assistance in preparing documentation and application procedures, guidance on IPR and patent filing, and connecting them with VCs or funds for investment.”
Modi congratulated innovators, including Vrinda Kapoor of 3rd iTech, Pratap Narayan Singh of Vervesemi, Gautam Kumar Singh of Fermionic Design, Anantha Kinnal of Calligo Technologies, and Jyothis Indirabhai of Netrasemi. He also viewed a high-performance computing chip designed to cut power use by nearly 80 per cent.
Tech highlights: DLI-backed startups and chip design breakthroughs
- InCore Semiconductors: Launched a RISC-V based SoC Generator Platform reducing chip design from months to minutes; test chip on TSMC’s 40nm node demonstrates six heterogeneous RISC-V cores.
- Azurite: ultra-low power for real-time control and battery devices.
- Calcite: balanced power-performance for IoT, POS, and embedded systems.
- Dolomite (in development): high-performance vector processing for AI and networking.
- Aheesa Digital Innovations: Vihaan SoC (launch in Q1 2026) for broadband and networking; built on C-DAC’s VEGA processor with advanced security features.
- 3rdiTech, Netrasemi, BigEndian, Mindgrove: Designing SoCs for surveillance and CCTV cameras; backed by over ₹3 billion in VC funding, targeting production in 2026.
- MosChip Technologies: Developing Vidyut, a fully indigenous smart energy meter chip, with fabrication planned in India by 2026.
- Vervesemi: Targeting SoCs for EV motor control, drones, smart meters, and ISRO space-grade ASICs between 2026–27.
- MBit Wireless: Developed a 4G-LTE modem chipset, certified by the Global Certification Forum, now under field trials with Indian telecom firms.
Alongside startups, leading firms such as LAM Research, Micron India, Tokyo Electron, KLA-Tencor, IBM, ASML, Tata Electronics and Applied Materials presented their technologies. Country pavilions from Japan, Singapore, Korea, and Malaysia highlighted the global collaboration driving the semiconductor industry.
SEMICON India 2025 has drawn more than 20,000 participants, 350 exhibitors, 2,500 delegates and 50 CXOs from 48 countries across 1,275 booths.
