New Delhi [India], October 5 (ANI): Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has approved the establishment of the ‘NaMo Semiconductor Laboratory’ at IIT Bhubaneswar. Funded under the MPLAD Scheme with an estimated budget of ₹4.95 crore, the lab aims to strengthen India’s semiconductor talent pipeline and manufacturing capabilities, according to a press release from the Ministry of Electronics & IT.
The initiative will equip students with industry-ready skills in chip manufacturing and packaging, supporting India’s self-reliance goals. “The NaMo Semiconductor Lab will contribute to Bharat’s deep talent pool by equipping the youth with industry-ready skills. It will position IIT Bhubaneswar as a hub for semiconductor research and skilling and help develop talent for upcoming chip manufacturing and packaging units across Bharat,” the statement said.
The project aligns with the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Design in India’ initiatives and will further strengthen India’s rapidly growing semiconductor ecosystem. India currently houses 20 per cent of global chip design talent, with students from 295 universities using the latest Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools. Twenty-eight student-designed chips from 20 institutes have already been taped out at SCL Mohali.
The release also noted that Odisha recently received approval for two semiconductor projects under the India Semiconductor Mission — an integrated facility for Silicon Carbide (SiC)-based compound semiconductors and an advanced 3D glass packaging facility. IIT Bhubaneswar already hosts the Silicon Carbide Research and Innovation Centre (SiCRIC), and the new lab will enhance its cleanroom facilities while offering research and development support for India’s semiconductor sector.
The proposed lab will be equipped with essential hardware and software for semiconductor training, design, and fabrication, with ₹4.6 crore allocated for equipment and ₹35 lakh for software.
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