From semiconductor shortages to strategic independence: India needs self-sufficient chip supply chain: Mindgrove

Started in 2021, Mindgrove Technologies Pvt Ltd has been designing innovative SoCs and hardware in India, for the world. Cost effective and rich in features, they supply scalable and dependable next-generation technology.

Shashwath TR, CEO and Co-founder, Mindgrove, tells us more. Excerpts from an interview: 

DQ: How does the semiconductor supply chain impact economic resilience in India?

Shashwath TR: There’s no doubt that a self-reliant and self-sufficient semiconductor supply chain is going to strengthen our economy. But, at this juncture we must look forward to not making chips for just India, but, also for the world. But, yes, it all starts from us being able to establish a robust semiconductor supply chain domestically. This will first make way for Indian OEMs and ODMs to consider homegrown chips, and thereby, lower their dependence on foreign entities. 

With import dependency out of the way, India can easily propel its way to build a strong semiconductor ecosystem and also become a global supplier of chips, eventually strengthening the resilience of the economy. 

Once we build a strong supply chain here — where chips are designed, developed, manufactured and packaged within India — we reduce that risk. It will give us more control, keep costs stable, and ensure that we stay protected even when global markets are uncertain. It’s not just about technology. 

A local chip ecosystem creates high-skill jobs and encourages development of new startups that will bring in more investments. And when we improve our semiconductor capabilities we can witness advancements in critical sectors like healthcare, transport, electronics, and manufacturing.

DQ: What are some key competencies that must be developed across the semiconductor value chain -- design to packaging -- to become self-sufficient?

Shashwath TR: It is crucial to build strengths at every stage of the value chain — from chip design to final packaging. Each stage needs different skills and infrastructure.

Design is where everything begins. We need to attract more talent that are trained in advanced chip design, including areas like System-on-Chip (SoC) and secure, low-power chips for IoT and AI-based applications. Strong design capabilities also mean we can create chips that are suited for the unique needs of our nation’s OEMs and ODMs. 

Next comes fabrication — this is where the actual chips are manufactured. For this, we need access to advanced foundries, cleanroom environments, and materials. It is also important to note that building fabs takes time and investment. Therefore, having strong relationships with global foundries in the short term is essential for fabless companies to kickstart their journey.

Post fabrication, we enter the testing and packaging phases, which again require a different set of requirements and conditions. These steps ensure that the chips work as expected and are ready to be used in devices. 

India is currently on its track -- establishing fabs and testing facilities, while also focusing on creating a skill-rich talent pool. By steadily gaining momentum, we can achieve a self-sufficient semiconductor supply chain sooner than we know it. 

Besides technical skills, we also need to focus on things like supply chain logistics, regulatory frameworks, and industry-academia partnerships. This way, we’re not just creating parts of the chain — we’re building an entire ecosystem. If India can develop these competencies across the value chain, we’ll be well on our way to becoming a global hub for semiconductors.

DQ: How can we foster a stronger domestic R&D ecosystem in semiconductor design?

Shashwath TR: The establishment of a domestic R&D ecosystem in semiconductor design is bound to have a direct impact on long-term technological independence. We believe this begins with developing deep technical talent and creating an environment that encourages sustained innovation.

To start with, we need to strengthen academic programs focused on semiconductor design, ensuring they are aligned with industry needs. Encouraging interdisciplinary learning becomes key. When we combine electronics, computer science, and materials science it takes us through a route where you get exposed to newer concepts leading to innovation. This will help prepare the existing talent for real-world challenges in chip design. 

In the same way, collaboration between industry and academia is another key driver. By promoting joint research initiatives, internship opportunities, and co-development programs can help bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. 

One more key aspect is the need for support from the government. Chip design startups like us can focus on development and innovation with much more clarity and confidence when the government continues to aid us with grants, incubation programs, and long-term R&D funding.

It is also important that a domestic R&D ecosystem is backed by a robust policy framework that encourages knowledge-sharing, protects intellectual property, and nurtures innovation across the entire semiconductor design lifecycle. With these elements in place, India will surely be well-equipped to acquire a spot as one of the global hubs for cutting-edge semiconductor design and innovation.

DQ: What are the most effective ways for industry and academic institutions to work together to close the talent gap across the semiconductor value chain?

Shashwath TR: Yes, we do have a talent gap to be filled in the chip design space. I can also say that it is being dealt with as we speak. With the development and establishment of fab and fabless in India, focus towards talent acquisition has become stronger than ever. 

As a step towards closing this talent gap, strategic collaboration between industry and academic institutions is bound to make things efficient. 

This could be through industry experts providing recommendations on course content in a way that it reflects the latest advancements in semiconductor technology; or academic institutions can better equip students with the knowledge and skills required by the industry. 

We can also make way for opportunities like internships and practical learning. We must ensure the young talents gain hands-on experience for the real-world applications in the semiconductor industry.

A couple of years ago, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched the C2S Programme which intended to train 85,000 engineers in VLSI and embedded system design over a period of five years. 

Last year, Siemens EDA, Synopsys, and Cadence, together, had announced extending support by providing electronics design automation (EDA) tools to around 150 colleges under the C2S Program. 

As a move towards skilling semiconductor talent pool, MeitY and NASSCOM had introduced a semiconductor design course called Chip Design and Verification under its joint venture - FutureSkills Prime. These are some laudable initiatives taken by the government and the industry leaders to upskill India’s semiconductor talent.

Academic Institutions must take steps to include chip design courses as vocational or as a certification program like the one IISc Bangalore offers – PG Level Advanced Certification in VLSI Chip Design. This will be a motivation for every engineering college to necessarily adopt chip design as a crucial part of their curriculum. 

I believe, through these synergic efforts we will be able to build a robust, future-ready workforce capable of advancing the semiconductor value chain.