Govt. of India to invest ₹4,500 crore for modernization of SCL Mohali; Assures it will not be privatized

Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Minister of State, Ravneet Singh, visited the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), Mohali to review the progress of work and ongoing modernisation activities.

During the visit, Vaishnaw announced that the Government of India will invest ₹4,500 crore to upgrade and expand SCL. “There is no doubt. SCL Mohali will be modernized, and it will not be privatized. A big journey is ahead, and India is ready for it,” the Minister assured. The Minister was speaking at SCL Mohali during a program where 28 chips designed by students from 17 academic institutions were handed over. 

These chips have been designed using EDA tools provided to students as part of Chips to Start-up (C2S) program. With this, a total of 56 chips designed by students have been fabricated at SCL as part of the this program.

The Minister also inaugurated the Semiconductor Process Gallery and Abhyuthanam Training Block. Semiconductor Process Gallery showcases a clean room lab equipped with earlier-generation fabrication tools. It offers students a real feel of a semiconductor fab and ATMP facility. The Abhyuthanam Training Block includes online and offline semiconductor training modules, and hands-on fire and safety training.

Roadmap for SCL Mohali
Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has drawn a clear roadmap for SCL Mohali, and he outlined the key vision areas.

SCL will be upgraded on the modern lines and government will invest Rs 4500 crore. This will include a large-scale increase in production capacity, targeting 100 times production of wafers from current levels. SCL Mohali will also continue to support students, researchers and start-ups by providing fabrication facilities that turn their chip designs into real silicon. 

Platform for talent development and innovation
India is one of the few countries where students from nearly 300 universities are designing semiconductor chips using world-class EDA tools provided through Government support. This ecosystem, Vaishnaw said, is unique in the world.

He reaffirmed that SCL will remain a platform for talent development, innovation and start-ups. This fabrication support provided by SCL so far, will further increase in future. To support the further modernization program of SCL, the Government of India has also requested the Punjab Government to allot 25 acres of land.

Atmanirbharta in strategic areas
The Minister added that self-reliance in strategic sectors is essential, and India will build an ecosystem for indigenous chip development.

A strong consortium featuring CDAC, DRDO, and other organizations will work together on design, product development, and manufacturing of Swadeshi chips.