Indian scientists submit detailed project report to develop new semiconductor materials

The Indian Academy of Sciences (IISC), a team of 30 scientists from the Institute of Prime Ministers of India, has made a proposal to the government to develop the “Angstrom-Scale” chip, which is much smaller than the smallest chip in current production. The team has proposed the proposal to the government to develop technologies using new semiconductor materials, called 2D materials, that can enable chip sizes to be one-tenth of the smallest chips currently in production worldwide and to develop India’s leadership in semiconductors.

Currently, the semiconductor manufacturing industry is led by advanced countries such as Silicon, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

“A team of scientists at IISc submitted a detailed project report (DPR) to the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) in April 2022, which was revised and submitted again in October 2024. The report was later shared with the Ministry of Electronics and IT. The project promises to develop angstrom-scale chips, far smaller than the smallest chips in production today,” a source in the government familiar with the proposal told PTI.
DPR proposes the development of 2D semiconductors using ultrathin materials such as graphene and transition metal dinucleoside (TMDS). These materials can be chip-fabricated on the Angstrom scale, which is significantly smaller than the current nanoscale technology.

The smallest chip currently produced is a 3-nanometer node produced by companies such as Samsung and Mediatek.

A brief summary of the 2D Materials Project (designed to replace silicon) can be found on the PSA Office’s website. Sources from the Department of Electronics and IT (Meity) confirmed that the proposal is under discussion. An official realized the matter said: “Met is positive about the project.

Currently, India mainly relies on foreign players for semiconductor manufacturing – the technology is strategic from an economic and national security perspective.

The country’s largest semiconductor project was established by Tata Electronics in partnership with Taiwan’s PSMC, involving an investment of Rs 9.1 billion. The project has been approved under the Indian semiconductor mission and is eligible for 50% capital support from the government.

By contrast, the proposal led by IISC requires a relatively small 5 billion rupees over five years to build local technology for the next generation of semiconductors. The project also includes a self-sustainability roadmap after the initial funding phase.

Globally, 2D materials have attracted significant interest. Europe has invested more than $1 billion (about Rs 83 lakh), South Korea has exceeded $300 million, and countries such as China and Japan have made serious but unpublic investments in semiconductor research based on 2D 2D substances.

An official familiar with anonymity, in the condition of anonymity, said: “2D materials will be a key driver of the future heterogeneous systems. Although global momentum is being established, India’s efforts are still limited and require urgent expansion. This is an area that India can lead, but time runs out,” said an official familiar with the conditions of anonymity and global development.

Communications about the project have been underway since 2021 and have been promoted to key departments including Meity, DRDO and Space departments, according to the PSA Office website. Niti Aayog also recommended the project in September 2022 according to the IISC report.

Officials of the research ecosystem noted that with traditional chips expanding near restrictions, several countries have prepared for the post-Selica world.

“Global technology players have shifted their attention to 2D semiconductors. India now needs to go from deliberation to implementation. The proposal seeks Rs 5 billion in five years, but there is still no formal guarantee. This window may not be open for a long time,” the person added.