Chips to Start-up (C2S) Programme – An Overview

Launch & Funding

  • Initiated by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in 2022.
  • Total outlay: ₹250 crore spread over five years.

Core Objectives

  • Develop 85,000 industry‑ready professionals (undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral).
  • Incubate 25 start‑ups and facilitate 10 technology transfers.
  • Provide access to SMART labs and ChipIN Centre facilities.
  • Train 1 lakh (100,000) students, generate 50 patents, and support 2,000 research publications.

Programme Architecture

  • Institutional Ecosystem: Academic institutions ↔ ChipIN Centre (C‑DAC Bengaluru) ↔ NIELIT SMART Labs.
  • Hands‑on Model: Combines classroom teaching, industry‑led mentorship, and multi‑year R&D projects.
  • Design & Fabrication Flow:
  1. Students design ASICs, SoCs, IP cores using advanced EDA tools.
  2. Quarterly aggregation of designs at ChipIN Centre.
  3. Verified layouts are fabricated on shared wafers at Semi‑Conductor Laboratory (SCL), Mohali using 180 nm technology.
  4. Packaged chips are delivered back to students for testing.
  • Support Services: Over 4,855 technical support requests resolved, ensuring continuous design improvement.

Strategic Significance

  • Indigenisation of Technology: Reduces dependence on foreign semiconductor design and fabrication services.
  • Skill Development: Aligns with Skill India and Make in India missions, creating a talent pool for the emerging Indian semiconductor ecosystem.
  • Economic Impact: Boosts start‑up creation, IP generation, and research output, contributing to GDP growth and export potential.
  • Policy Alignment: Complements the National Semiconductor Mission (2022‑27) and the broader Self‑Reliant India agenda.

Related Legal & Institutional Framework

  • MeitY operates under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Act, 2022 (hypothetical reference for governance).
  • C‑DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) is a Nodal Agency under the Department of Electronics & IT.
  • NIELIT (National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology) functions under the Ministry of Electronics & IT and provides SMART Lab infrastructure.

Key Data Points

  • ₹250 crore funding
  • 85,000 professionals to be trained
  • 25 start‑ups to be incubated
  • 10 technology transfers
  • 1 lakh students to be trained
  • 50 patents expected
  • 2,000 research publications
  • 4,855 support requests handled
  • 180 nm fabrication node at SCL Mohali

Future Outlook

  • Scaling to newer technology nodes (e.g., 90 nm, 45 nm) as Indian fabs mature.
  • Potential collaboration with International Semiconductor Alliances for knowledge exchange.
  • Expansion of ChipIN Centre services to industry partners beyond academia.

References

  • Press Information Bureau (PIB) release, 20 Jan 2026.
  • MeitY annual report 2023‑24.
  • National Semiconductor Mission documents.