A TEAM of 30 scientists from India’s premier institute, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), has submitted a proposal to the Government to develop ‘angstromscale’ chips, far smaller than the smallest chips currently in production. The team has submitted the proposal to the Government for developing technologies using a new class of semiconductor materials, called 2D Materials, that could enable chip sizes as small as one-tenth of the smallest chips currently in global production and develop India’s leadership in semiconductors. Currently, semiconductor manufacturing is dominated by silicon-based technologies, led by advanced nations such as the US, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. “A team of scientists at IISc submitted a detailed project report (DPR) to the Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) in April 2022, which was revised and submitted again in October 2024. The report was later shared with the Ministry of Electronics and IT.

 

The project promises to develop angstrom-scale chips, far smaller than the smallest chips in production today,” a source in the Government familiar with the proposal told PTI. The DPR proposes the development of 2D semiconductors using ultra-thin materials like graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). These materials can enable chip fabrication at the angstrom scale, significantly smaller than current nanometer-scale technologies. The smallest chip currently inproductionisthe3-nanometer node, manufactured by companies like Samsung and MediaTek. A brief summary of the 2D materialsproject--whichaims to replace silicon, is available on the website of the PSA’s office. Sources in the Ministry of ElectronicsandIT(MeitY)confirmed that the proposal has been under discussion. “MeitY is positive about the project.

 

ThePrincipalScientific Advisor and Secretary, MeitY, haveheldmeetingsonit.MeitY is exploring the electronics applicationswheresuchtechnology can be deployed. This is a collaborative effort that requiresduediligenceatevery step,” an official aware of the matter said. India currently relies heavilyonforeignplayers for semiconductormanufacturing -- a technology that is strategic from both an economic and national security standpoint. The country’s largest semiconductorproject,beingsetup by Tata Electronics in partnership with Taiwan’s PSMC, involves an investment of Rs 91,000 crore.

 

This project has beenapprovedundertheIndia SemiconductorMissionandis eligible for 50 per cent capital supportfromtheGovernment. In comparison, the IISc-led proposal requests a relatively modest Rs 500 crore over five yearstobuildindigenoustechnology for next-generation semiconductors. The project also includes a roadmap for self-sustainabilityaftertheinitial funding phase.