India, despite its rich pool of engineering talent, has historically remained on the fringes of global semiconductor manufacturing. However, as the nation gears up to establish its own chip-making capabilities in the fiscal year 2025, a critical decision looms: Which nanometer (nm) technology should serve as the foundation for this nascent industry?
Industry experts are increasingly converging on the 28nm node as the ideal starting point for India's semiconductor ambitions. This mature and versatile technology finds applications across a wide spectrum of sectors, including automotive, consumer electronics, and strategic fields like aerospace and defence.
Anurag Awasthi, Vice President of the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA), underscores the potential of the 28nm node, stating, "The 28nm chips are demonstratively mature and capable. They can be used in a variety of applications..." He further highlights the robust domestic demand for products leveraging this technology, aligning with IESA's projection of a $100 billion Indian semiconductor market by 2030.
Satya Gupta, President of VLSI Society, emphasizes the commercial resilience of the 28nm node, noting its continued significance in the global foundry market. He also points to the geopolitical advantages of this technology, citing the reduced risk of denial of access compared to more advanced nodes that rely on restricted equipment.
Danish Faruqui, CEO of Fab Economics, supports the 28nm node as a suitable entry point for India, emphasizing the need for multiple fabs utilizing the same node platform to foster synergies and propel the nation's ecosystem towards more advanced technologies. However, he cautions against limiting India's focus to a single node, advocating for a diversified fab portfolio to cater to the country's varied demand landscape.
Faruqui further suggests that India should prioritize a "Fab-level Manufacturing Node Portfolio" around 28nm, encompassing multiple nodes that share equipment and process compatibility, thereby optimizing costs. He emphasizes the importance of considering total cost of ownership (TCO) in fab site selection and node mix decisions.
India's unique combination of government subsidies, high-level commitment, and streamlined business processes positions it favorably to capitalize on the current geopolitical and economic landscape of the semiconductor industry. With the 28nm node emerging as a potential linchpin, the nation stands poised to make a significant foray into semiconductor manufacturing, leveraging its strengths and addressing its unique needs.
