A major boost to India’s semiconductor and chip design ambitions came on Saturday as a new MeitY-backed ChipIN Centre was inaugurated at Sona College of Technology in Tamil Nadu. The centre is expected to strengthen India’s semiconductor ecosystem and support the country’s growing ‘Make in India’ chip manufacturing push.
The newly launched “Sona ChipIN Centre” has been established under the Chips to Startup (C2S) programme supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), C-DAC, and the national ChipIN initiative. The facility is located within the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) at Sona College.
According to reports, the centre is equipped with advanced Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools worth nearly ₹10 crore, enabling students, faculty members, and researchers to work on semiconductor design, VLSI research, embedded systems, and industry-focused innovation projects.
The centre was inaugurated by Dr V. Veerappan, Chairman of the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA), along with Shekar Viswanathan, former Vice-Chairman of Toyota Kirloskar Motor.
Sona Institutions Chairman C. Valliappa reportedly stated that the institution aims to contribute towards developing a “Made in India” semiconductor chip within the next 24 to 36 months, aligning with the government’s India Semiconductor Mission.
Vice Chairman Chocko Valliappa highlighted that the initiative comes at a crucial time when India is rapidly expanding its semiconductor ecosystem and moving toward advanced chip development capabilities. He added that the centre will help produce industry-ready semiconductor engineers capable of supporting India’s future electronics and chip manufacturing industry.
The facility is expected to benefit students from multiple academic programmes, including Electronics and Communication Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Electronics Engineering (VLSI Design and Technology), Electronics and Computer Engineering, and ME VLSI Design.
India has significantly accelerated its semiconductor ambitions over the last few years through initiatives such as the India Semiconductor Mission and the Chips to Startup programme. The C2S programme, launched by MeitY in 2022 with an outlay of ₹250 crore over five years, aims to create nearly 85,000 industry-ready professionals in chip design, semiconductor technology, and VLSI-related fields.
Experts believe educational institutions like Sona College will play a crucial role in building India’s semiconductor talent pipeline as the country attempts to reduce dependence on imported chips and become a major global electronics manufacturing hub.
