The Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India has signed an agreement with BigEndian Semiconductors, Bengaluru, Karnataka for financial support of ₹130 crore under the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund. This support represents 50% of the total project cost of ₹260 crore for Project VeerAI, which aims to develop an indigenous AI Vision System-on-Chip (SoC). The financial support will be provided through Optional Convertible Debt (OCD).
Project VeerAI focuses on advancing camera-focused AI Vision SoC technology from Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-5 to TRL-9, indicating a progression from technology validation in relevant environment to actual system proven in operational environment. The project specifically targets development of a secure AI chip for surveillance applications, particularly CCTV systems, with the primary objective of reducing dependence on externally developed semiconductor and technology supply chains.
The proposed platform is designed to combine AI processing and smart features with security, privacy and connectivity capabilities. The technology is being developed initially for CCTV and surveillance applications in India and the Global South, with a defined roadmap for deployment across multiple sectors including defence, automotive, industrial and medical domains. This expansion strategy aims to create a wider market for indigenous AI-enabled semiconductor solutions beyond the initial surveillance focus.
The project seeks to leverage India's growing VLSI design and semiconductor talent, translating domestic design capabilities into a scalable product platform. By focusing on application-specific SoCs rather than general-purpose chips, the programme addresses specific industry requirements while enabling faster technology deployment and commercialisation. The development emphasizes the growing significance of indigenous AI and semiconductor technologies as connected devices and intelligent systems become increasingly embedded across critical infrastructure.
Sh. Rajesh Kumar Pathak, Secretary, TDB, emphasized that semiconductors are foundational to almost every emerging technology, and building indigenous capabilities in application-specific AI chips is crucial for strengthening India's technology ecosystem. The RDI Fund enables sustained support for technologies requiring significant investment to move from advanced development to commercial deployment. The promoters of BigEndian Semiconductors stated that the RDI support will accelerate development and validation of Project VeerAI and help progress the technology towards TRL-9, contributing to a stronger domestic semiconductor ecosystem.