September 17, 2025

Get ready for a semiconductor breakthrough! British chip giant Arm has launched a sparkling new facility in Bengaluru, targeting the design of ultra-advanced two-nanometre (2nm) chips, Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told eager reporters. This bold step puts India on the map as a key player in the global advanced semiconductor R&D arena. Why all the fuss about 2nm? Smaller chips like these pack more power, are faster, and consume less energy – making your gadgets smarter and sleeker! Vaishnaw proudly announced that Arm’s 2nm chip design program makes it only the second company in India, after Renesas, to reach this next-level milestone. Not stopping there, Vaishnaw hinted that even more advanced chip projects are brewing behind the scenes. Remember in May, when the minister inaugurated Renesas Electronics’ new design centers in Noida and Bengaluru focused on cutting-edge 3nm design? He called 3nm “a new frontier” following India’s earlier 7nm and 5nm designs. Arm’s new Bengaluru office is already a big name powering mobiles and servers worldwide. And speaking of big tech players, the minister revealed that ASML – the Dutch titan making crucial extreme UV lithography machines – is seriously interested in India. “Their CEO was present. He met with us. He had a round table with the prime minister and their interest in India is very serious and we are continuously engaged with them,” Vaishnaw shared. India is also working with global tech leaders like IMEC and IBM Albany, making serious moves in semiconductor innovation. Starting smart, India kicked off semiconductor production at the mature 28nm node. Vaishnaw said, “over a period of time, once we develop the ecosystem in our country, we must go to more leading nodes.” The government’s grand plan? To become a “product nation” by building 25 strategic chipsets with intellectual property firmly rooted in India. These chips range from simple, high-volume ones to complex, low-volume designs, all selected by a technical committee led by the prime minister’s principal scientific advisor. And the dream doesn’t stop with design. India aims for a complete semiconductor stack—making chips, manufacturing equipment, materials, and creating top talent. Big investments are pouring into chemicals, substrates, and other ecosystem pillars, boosted by the $1-billion India Deep Tech Alliance fund which prioritizes semiconductors, AI, biotech, and more. The second phase of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM 2.0) will focus heavily on equipment and materials to make the ecosystem sustainable. “The broad contours will be fundamentally on the entire ecosystem,” Vaishnaw explained. “Once equipment and materials start getting made here, it becomes a very sustainable way forward.” On rare earths, the minister revealed a secret weapon: India's rich deposits of rare earth beach sands. Plans are underway to develop homegrown processing technology, a crucial step to grabbing a strong place in global supply chains. India isn't forgetting its roots either. The state-owned Semiconductor Lab (SCL) in Mohali is getting a cool makeover. It will boost commercial chip production, modernize equipment, and keep serving as a playground for students and startups to test their chip designs without the huge costs of going abroad. Vaishnaw said, “All the 28 student-designed chips that have been taped out recently were done at Mohali.” This means SCL will continue to play triple roles – making more chips, modernizing tech, and fostering innovation. In short, India’s semiconductor story is heating up like never before, with Arm’s new Bengaluru base lighting the way for a spectacular tech future. Are we ready to chip in and watch India shine in global tech? Absolutely!

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Tags: Arm, Semiconductor, 2nm chips, Ashwini vaishnaw, India semiconductor mission, Chip design,