In a great tryst for India technologically, IIT Madras and ISRO have jointly developed the first aerospace-grade semiconductor chip indigenously designed in the country. This landmark development represents a significant stride toward India achieving self-reliance in critical semiconductor technology. Under the SHAKTI initiative, the general-purpose microprocessor can fit into various systems, namely, space technology applications, laptops, desktops, and mobile phones.

The joint project with ISRO’s Inertial Systems Unit based at Thiruvananthapuram began with the manufacturing of five of the chips designed at ISRO’s Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL) in Chandigarh. Meanwhile, the packaging process was carried out at Tata Advanced Systems in Karnataka. Contrived and constituted entirely inside India, therefore, making a landmark achievement in the domain of digital technology, is the first fully indigenous RISC-V microprocessor to be designed and fabricated.

Prof V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, remarked on semiconductor technology’s very important nature, calling it a fast-evolving subject which has become the backbone of modern digital systems. He noted that through the timely launch of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), India is responding to the growing global demand for semiconductors. Microprocessors, said Prof Kamakoti, are programmable components serving as the “brains” of any digital system, and their development matters for progress in technology. This chip belongs to the SHAKTI family, capable of powering a diverse range of computing systems from small-size devices to high-end data and web servers.

Prof. Kamakoti asserted that the achievement of indigenous fabrication of the semiconductor chip shows technological advancement and India’s increasing capacity to be independent. It opens the doors for India to design, develop, and fabricate entire end-to-end systems within the country. This technological self-reliance minimizes dependence on foreign technologies and mitigates risks related to external vulnerabilities.

The SCL Chandigarh lab is proud to be involved in the development of the IRIS-LV Processor, said Kamaljeet Singh, Director General of SCL Chandigarh. The chip was entirely fabricated using SCL’s 180-nanometer technology node. Steps like mask frame design, GDS preparation, and extensive testing were all part of chip fabrication. The electrical testing at the wafer level and post-silicon design validation to check the efficiency and reliability of the chip were done in collaboration with IIT Madras team.

A big benefit of an indigenous approach in design, development, and fabrication is the security of systems. IIT Madras previously stated that systems developed in India are less prone to compromise through backdoors or hardware Trojans. This is especially critical for strategic sectors, such as defence, nuclear power installations, or many other government agencies. That such SHAKTI-based processors have entered these sectors greatly underlines the importance of this development for national security.

The SHAKTI programme and the success of the IRIS-LV Processor signify a major step toward establishing India as a viable player in the global semiconductor ecosystem. This project fits into the government’s broader aspirations of fostering indigenous innovation and diminishing dependence on foreign semiconductor manufacturers. As the demand for advanced computing solutions continues to grow, the capability to develop indigenous microprocessors will deliver strategic autonomy and secure India technologically.

This development also demonstrates the ability of a collaboration between academia and national R&D organizations to nurture innovation and technology development. With the support of IIT Madras and ISRO, further developments in semiconductor technology may just be around the corner. Launching the IRIS-LV Processor is not only a proud moment for Indian science and technology but also an encouraging stride toward a future where India is recognized for semiconductor manufacturing and digital innovations.

The success of the SHAKTI initiative bears testimony to the capabilities of Indian engineers and scientists, with the country poised to invest in semiconductor research and development. The path toward technological independence and innovations has significantly widened, leading to advancements that shall not only benefit strategic sectors but also common technology users in India.