Renesas India's 3 Nanometer Chip Design
Japanese semiconductor and electronics manufacturer, Renesas India, is set to be the first company to design 3 nanometer (nm) chips end-to-end in India. This marks a significant advancement in India's semiconductor industry, as mentioned by Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Industry Growth and Development
- The company is advancing from previous designs of 7 nm and 5 nm to 3 nm chips.
- The move is part of a broader strategy to enhance the electronics manufacturing industry, which is witnessing a double-digit CAGR (compound annual growth rate).
- This initiative supports the development of self-reliant solutions and the growth of the semiconductor industry in India.
Inaugurations and Collaborations
The Union minister virtually inaugurated the Bengaluru design centre and participated in the opening of the company's Noida research and development office.
- Renesas signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
- The agreement includes providing 270 Indian colleges and universities with a microcontroller-based hardware kit for product development.
- This collaboration aligns with the 'Make in India' initiative, aiming to bolster local design and manufacturing capabilities.
Joint Venture and Investments
In 2024, Renesas formed a joint venture with the Murugappa group’s CG Power and Thailand’s Stars Microelectronics to establish a semiconductor outsourced assembly and testing (OSAT) unit at Sanand in Gujarat.
- CG Power holds the majority share with 92.3% ownership, while Renesas and Stars Microelectronics hold 6.8% and 0.9%, respectively.
- The venture plans to invest over ₹7,600 crore over the next five years in the Sanand OSAT unit.
- The planned capacity is up to 15 million chips packaged per day.