23 Semiconductor Design Projects Approved Under DLI Scheme

(MENAFN- KNN India) New Delhi, Aug 23 (KNN) The government has approved 23 semiconductor design projects under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme, reinforcing its efforts to expand the country's chip design capabilities.

The projects, led by domestic startups and MSMEs, will focus on developing indigenous chips and system-on-chip (SoC) solutions for applications ranging from surveillance and energy metering to networking and microprocessor IPs.

According to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), 72 companies have also secured access to industry-standard Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools to accelerate their design programmes.

Among the companies in the first DLI-approved cohort is Vervesemi Microelectronics, a fabless semiconductor firm founded in 2017.

The Bengaluru-based company announced its upcoming portfolio of advanced integrated circuits (ICs) aimed at bolstering India's semiconductor self-reliance while serving global markets.

Vervesemi, which has already exported semiconductor intellectual property (IP) to international manufacturers, holds a portfolio of more than 110 IPs, 25 IC SKUs, 10 patents and five trade secrets.

Its proprietary machine learning-powered analog chain IPs are embedded in products used in space, defence, industrial and smart energy sectors.

As part of its current roadmap, the company is aiming for volume production of several chips between late 2026 and early 2027.

Among them is a BLDC motor controller ASIC, developed under the MeitY-backed Chips to Startup (C2S) programme, designed for use in fans and household appliances, with engineering samples slated for 2026.

Another product in the pipeline is a precision motor-control ASIC, approved under the DLI scheme, which will cater to electric vehicles, drones, and industrial automation, also expected to be sampled in 2026.

The company is additionally working on a data acquisition ASIC for space and avionics, which incorporates machine learning for mission-critical aerospace applications, with samples scheduled for the same year.

In parallel, a weighing scale and bridge sensor ASIC-intended for next-generation weighing systems and force-touch devices-is already being sampled with Asian partners, with engineering versions due by late 2025.

Rounding off the portfolio is a smart energy metering ASIC, compliant with Class 0.2S precision standards and equipped with predictive maintenance and multi-channel sensing features, with samples anticipated by the end of 2025.

Vervesemi's chips incorporate embedded machine learning to enhance fault tolerance, predictive diagnostics, adaptive calibration and fabrication yield, enabling what the company describes as 'self-healing' and highly reliable systems.

“These innovations mark a turning point for India's semiconductor ecosystem,” said Rakesh Malik, Founder and CEO of Vervesemi.“By building high-performance, Made-in-India ICs for strategic and consumer markets, we are not only driving import substitution but also showcasing India's capability to lead on the global semiconductor stage.”

Commenting on the broader government initiative, Sunita Verma, Group Coordinator (R&D), MeitY, said:“India's ambition is to become a world leader in semiconductor design, envisioning a future where every device in the world has a designed-in-India chip.”

(KNN Bureau)

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