Mohali: The federal government will take a name by the yr finish on whether or not Mohali-based Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL) might be developed additional as a analysis and growth facility or a business fab might be arrange on the facility, in keeping with a senior official. “The request for proposals for modernizing SCL has been issued solely final week, however the authorities desires to maneuver swiftly. Inside 1 / 4, a name might be taken on which path it’ll go, both R&D fab or a business fab,” the official mentioned, asking to not be named.
The ministry of electronics and knowledge expertise that issued a preliminary data memorandum looking for expressions of curiosity (EoI) from international and Indian gamers for modernizing SCL, is anticipating responses newest by 21 October. “The long run plan of action additionally is determined by the curiosity from personal gamers to the modernization proposal,” the official added.
As per the EoI, the federal government is exploring two choices. One, reworking SCL into an R&D-led centre of excellence with semicon R&D capabilities encompassing superior nodes, superior packaging, compound semiconductors, design and EDA instruments, supplies and different R&D areas. Inside this, a brand new R&D-cum-prototyping line for 300 mm wafer processing on superior nodes – of 28nm or under – can be arrange, with a roadmap on progressing from 28nm to 14nm and under nodes over time. This R&D fab might even have superior packaging capabilities. For this feature, the federal government might present 100% capital expenditure assist.
Two, changing it into an at-scale manufacturing entity with quantity manufacturing of semiconductor units or chips. This new business unit might do both silicon semiconductor chip fabrication, compound semiconductor chip fabrication or meeting, testing and packaging. Inside this, the federal government has supplied two choices. One, a multi-entity three way partnership mannequin, the place authorities can lengthen capital assist of fifty% of the general challenge price and take majority fairness stake. The personal participant may have full operational autonomy. Two, a construct, function and preserve mannequin the place authorities will present 100% capital infusion however retain 100% possession.
The personal participant will construct, function and preserve the resultant entity on a hard and fast earnings and or, a profit-sharing foundation, for a minimal interval of 15 years.
A mix of the 2 may be explored.
Arrange in 1984, the nation’s solely facility which produces, packages and sells its personal semiconductor chips or built-in circuits, had been destroyed by fireplace in 1989 and restarted manufacturing in 1997, lacking the bus for changing into a serious provider to native or international wants. Underneath the federal government’s newfound deal with making India self-reliant in addition to a semiconductor manufacturing hub for the long run, SCL is getting a ₹10,000 crore makeover, that was authorised by the Union Cupboard in 2022.
The autonomous physique which was introduced below MEITY final yr from the division of house which had the executive management of SCL since 2006, presently operates two wafer fabrication strains with a mixed capability of approximate 750 wafer begins per 30 days (WSPM). It undertakes design, fabrication, meeting and packaging, testing and high quality assurance of two varieties of silicon units for numerous purposes. SCL additionally has a compound semiconductor analysis facility.
SCL’s chips have been utilized in India’s Mars Orbiter Mission and extra just lately within the Vikram lander of the Chandrayaan-3 mission which landed on moon final month.
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Up to date: 01 Oct 2023, 10:46 PM IST
