India Must Leverage Chip Design Strengths for Strategic Autonomy in New Geopolitical Landscape

India must urgently focus on achieving strategic autonomy by developing indigenous intellectual property (IP) and trusted products, according to Ajai Chowdhry, Founder of HCL and Chairman of EPIC Foundation. Highlighting the shifting global geopolitics and the rise of a “unipolar world,” Chowdhry emphasized the critical need for India to harness its strengths in chip design to reduce dependency on external technologies.

The country has already made significant progress with the development of RISC-V chip technology at IIT-Madras, eliminating licensing costs. Building on this foundation, Chowdhry urged the government to prioritize designing chips using RISC-V architecture to safeguard against potential sanctions.

To foster a robust ecosystem, Chowdhry recommended creating a preference for Indian-designed trusted chips in government procurement. This approach, he noted, would stimulate market demand, empower startups, and support the growth of the fabless semiconductor industry.

The EPIC Foundation has proposed a comprehensive roadmap, suggesting an allocation of ₹44,000 crore under the ‘Product Nation’ initiative. Of this, ₹15,000 crore is designated for system products and ₹11,000 crore for semiconductor development. Chowdhry emphasized the importance of allocating funds for semiconductor products in the upcoming budget to achieve self-sufficiency in critical technologies.

India’s vast home market and established chip design capabilities position it to become a key player in the global value chain. By focusing on indigenous chip development, India can strengthen its technological sovereignty and respond effectively to emerging geopolitical challenges.

Source: The Economic Times