HIGHLIGHTS:
- The central government is requesting applications from 100 start-ups, MSMEs, R&D organisations, and academics to train 85,000 engineers.
- Over the course of five years, the C2S programme will result in the production of 175 ASICs.
- The Chips to Startup (C2S) website is now accepting submissions for this programme.
What is in the News?
The central government is requesting applications from 100 start-ups, MSMEs, R&D organisations, and academics to train 85,000 engineers in the areas of very-large-scale integration (VLSI) and embedded system design under the “Chip to Start-up (C2S) Program.”
C2S (Chip to Start-up) Program
- Over the course of five years, the C2S programme will result in the production of 175 ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits), an IP core library, and working prototypes of 20 systems on chips (SoC).
- By infusing the culture of SoC/System Level Design at the Bachelors, Masters, and Research levels, it will be a step toward leapfrogging in the Electronics System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM) space.
- It will also aid in the development of fabless design start-ups.
- The programme also covers every aspect of the electronics value chain, including quality personnel training, research and development, system design, hardware IP design, prototyping, application-oriented R&D, and deployment.
There are three types of proposals.
Three applications in three categories are invited under the C2S programme, based on institution knowledge, technology readiness level (TRL), and design experience:
- SoCs/systems/ASICs/Reusable IP Core design and development (s)
- Application-oriented working prototypes of IPs, SoCs, and ASICs are being developed.
- ASIC/FPGA R&D with a focus on proof of concept.
Which is the nodal agency to implement C2S programme?
C-DAC is the nodal agency for the C2S program’s implementation (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing). C-DAC is a MeitY-affiliated scientific society.
Application to participate in the programme
The Chips to Startup (C2S) website is now accepting submissions for this programme. It will be open till the 31st of January 2022. Applications and proposals must be submitted in the required format to the portal.
Background
The Union government authorized Rs 76,000-crore initiative in December 2021 to enhance semiconductor and display manufacturing in India, with the goal of positioning India as a worldwide centre for hi-tech production and recruiting multinational chip manufacturers.
In the next six years, India will establish up approximately 20 semiconductor design, component production, and display fabrication (fab) facilities under this programme.
