IISc Scientists Aim to Create World’s Smallest Chip

Rapid Summary

• Institution: Indian Institute of Science (IISc) proposes developing angstrom-scale chips, aiming to pioneer next-generation semiconductor technologies.
• Funding & Scope: The project seeks Rs 500 crore over five years from the Ministry of Electronics and IT.
• Innovation: IISc scientists aim to use 2D materials to overcome limitations of silicon-based semiconductors, enabling chip sizes as small as one-tenth the current smallest production chips globally (currently at 3 nanometers).
• Applications: Angstrom-scale chips could boost industries like AI,quantum computing,and automation by enhancing processing speed and efficiency.
• Global Context: Semiconductor manufacturing is dominated by countries like the US, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. India relies heavily on foreign players for this strategic technology but has ambitious domestic projects including Tata Electronics’ Rs 91,000 crore investment with Taiwan’s PSMC.
• Self-Sufficiency Plan: IISc outlines a roadmap for indigenous development and self-sustainability post initial funding.

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Indian Opinion Analysis

The proposal by IISc marks a significant step toward reducing India’s reliance on foreign semiconductor technologies while advancing innovation in next-generation materials. Angstrom-scale chips have transformative potential across sectors such as AI and quantum computing due to their higher transistor density. While global competition remains intense among nations with established semiconductor infrastructures-South Korea’s Samsung currently leads with its 3-nanometer nodes-the modest funding requested by IISc highlights India’s ambition to invest strategically in high-impact innovations.

Economic sovereignty in semiconductors is crucial given their strategic importance. Existing projects like Tata Electronics’ partnership with Taiwan’s PSMC showcase progress but are still rooted in external collaborations. Indigenous efforts such as the IISc initiative provide long-term sustainability value if successfully executed.This project could position India among leaders actively shaping future computing architectures while fostering domestic capability in emerging materials science.