BHUBANESWAR: In a major step towards advancing India’s semiconductor ecosystem, the Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has approved the establishment of the ‘NaMo Semiconductor Laboratory’ at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar.
The project, announced by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on Sunday, carries an estimated cost of ₹4.95 crore, funded under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) Scheme. The initiative aims to empower India’s youth with industry-ready semiconductor skills while strengthening the country’s growing pool of chip design professionals.
According to the ministry, the NaMo Semiconductor Laboratory will position IIT Bhubaneswar as a leading hub for semiconductor research, training, and innovation. It will support advanced learning, research, and capacity building for engineers and technologists driving India’s semiconductor revolution.
The facility will also play a crucial role in preparing a highly skilled workforce for upcoming semiconductor manufacturing and packaging units across India. These units are central to the government’s goal of turning India into a global hub for electronics manufacturing and advanced chip design.
The new lab aligns with India’s flagship initiatives — ‘Make in India’ and ‘Design in India’ — by fostering self-reliance and innovation in semiconductor design and fabrication.
Currently, India contributes nearly 20% of the world’s chip design talent, with students from over 295 universities using advanced Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools. So far, 28 student-designed semiconductor chips from 20 different institutes have been successfully developed at the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) in Mohali, underscoring India’s growing academic expertise.
IIT Bhubaneswar was chosen for the new laboratory due to its strong infrastructure and established leadership in semiconductor research. The institute already hosts the Silicon Carbide Research and Innovation Centre (SiCRIC), a premier facility advancing research in silicon carbide-based technologies.
Odisha’s semiconductor landscape is also expanding rapidly. The state recently secured approval for two key projects under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) — one focusing on SiC-based compound semiconductors, and another on advanced 3D glass packaging technologies.
The NaMo Semiconductor Lab will further enhance IIT Bhubaneswar’s cleanroom facilities, R&D capacity, and training infrastructure. Out of the total project cost, ₹4.6 crore has been allocated for equipment procurement and ₹35 lakh for software acquisition.
Once operational, the lab will be equipped with state-of-the-art tools and specialized software, providing students and researchers with hands-on experience in semiconductor design and fabrication.
With this initiative, India takes another decisive step toward achieving technological self-reliance and establishing itself as a major global player in the semiconductor industry.
