SEMICON India 2026 Concluding Session Announcements
SEMICON India 2026 concluded at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, featuring 15 significant announcements and collaborations aimed at strengthening India's semiconductor ecosystem. The initiatives focused on semiconductor design, indigenous computing, fabrication management, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, start-up engagement, and workforce development, bringing together government institutions, industry, academia, and skilling organizations.
Digital India RISC-V Grand Challenge Results
The Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) Grand Challenge, organized by Maker Village under the Chips to Startup (C2S) Programme of MeitY, received participation from 1,236 teams comprising 5,045 participants nationwide. Three teams received total prize money of Rs 60 lakh: Meevisai Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (Team Digital Dawgs from SASTRA University) won first prize for developing an autonomous water-surface cleaning robot using IIT Madras's indigenous SHAKTI processor; Digiscope LLP (Team Binary Bandits from ER&DCI Institute of Technology) won second prize for developing VEGA Chikitsa digital stethoscope using CDAC's VEGA processor; and Zetawave Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (Team NeuroBytes from IISc Bengaluru) won third prize for a forest-environment monitoring system using the VEGA processor.
New Technology Platforms and Innovation Challenges
The second edition of Bharat AI-SoC Challenge 2026–27 was launched under the C2S Programme for undergraduate and postgraduate students and working professionals in AI and system-on-chip design, supported by the UK Government through the UK-India Technology Security Initiative and open for one month from launch date. Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL), Mohali launched Device Manufacturing Integrated System (DMIS), an indigenous manufacturing execution system for efficient wafer-fabrication management with modular, plug-and-play architecture supporting end-to-end management from order booking to final packaging.
Partnerships for Sovereign Computing Infrastructure
C-DAC and NLC India Limited announced collaboration to establish a data center within India's energy-sector ecosystem using indigenous technologies. C-DAC and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) announced partnership to jointly develop and deliver indigenous high-performance computing, AI, and sovereign data-center solutions, combining C-DAC's advanced computing technologies with BEL's system-integration capabilities.
Indigenous AI and Quantum Platforms
C-DAC launched PARAM Vidya, a ready-to-deploy AI Excellence Lab-in-a-Box for universities, research institutions, start-ups, and MSMEs with plug-and-play architecture and indigenous software ecosystem. C-DAC also inaugurated PARAM Shavak-QS, a compact, high-performance quantum simulation platform designed to enable research, education, and innovation in quantum technologies.
Semiconductor Workforce Development Initiatives
Multiple partnerships were announced: Electronics Sector Skills Council of India with Maitrio Labs to strengthen semiconductor skilling ecosystem; ESSCI with Truechip Solutions for training and certification in semiconductor circuit design, verification, and testing; SEMI with Peachtree Elevate for workforce development through technical training and certification pathways; and Ramaiah Institute of Advanced Skills and Technology with IISc Bengaluru to advance semiconductor capabilities through institutional collaboration. NIELIT announced initiatives for ATMP skilling and a Digital Twin for Semiconductor Manufacturing combining digital learning, hands-on training, and immersive simulations.
Start-up Engagement and Ecosystem Roadmap
The SEMICON India Hackathon received 3,808 team registrations from 881 colleges and 1,053 ideas, with 10 teams reaching Grand Finale. Teams from VIT Vellore and IIT Madras emerged as winners, while teams from KPR Institute and VIT Vellore were runners-up. Under Startup Mitra, 11 start-ups pitched to over 20 venture capital investors with Elphins Technologies securing first place, Meukron Technologies second, and Multi Nano Sense Technologies and CraftifAI jointly receiving third place. EY and India Semiconductor and Electronics Association (ISEA) launched the report "Semicon India 2.0: From Capacity Creation to Ecosystem Leadership" projecting India's semiconductor market growth from nearly USD 64 billion in 2026 to USD 200 billion by 2035, outlining a roadmap for leadership across manufacturing, advanced packaging, and innovation.
These 15 announcements complemented 41 MoUs and partnerships unveiled during the first two days of SEMICON India 2026, reflecting broad-based collaboration among government, industry, academia, startups, and R&D organizations to translate semiconductor capabilities into technology development, skilled talent, commercialization, and deployment.