India’s fab control seen as the real sovereignty test

Semiconductor sovereignty is a crucial factor in India's quest for self-sufficiency, according to Shashwath TR, cofounder and CEO of Mindgrove Technologies. The CEO believes that India should control a significant portion of the chip production process, from design and packaging to the software loaded onto the chip. Speaking at SEMICON India 2026, Shashwath emphasized that this control extends to verifying that no externally sourced, unverified firmware is loaded onto the chip.

For devices like CCTV cameras, Shashwath stressed that India needs to secure its own chips to ensure they can be operated and verified locally. He noted that the software placed on these chips is particularly important, as it determines how the device functions. "We don't want any external firmware, which is unverified, being loaded on it," Shashwath stated.

Exercising control over the chip's journey, from design to production, is essential for India's semiconductor sovereignty. Shashwath pointed out that local companies can work more closely with device manufacturers, resulting in more efficient communication and quicker adaptation to customer needs. He used Taiwan as an example, highlighting how proximity between designers, manufacturers, and device makers fosters better collaboration and problem-solving.

Currently, Mindgrove's supply chain shows the extent of its ambition. While 85% of the design intellectual property (IP) in its chips belongs to the company, the wafers are manufactured outside India. Assembly, testing, and packaging can occur both within and outside the country. Shashwath acknowledged that the chip's production chain is not yet fully Indian, as the wafer production chain remains outside the country.

However, Mindgrove is discussing the possibility of making future products like its Secure IoT or vision chips at an Indian fab. Even if the underlying design remains the same, transferring a chip to a different factory would result in different characteristics and require a new part number. To meet global commercial standards, Shashwath highlighted the need for an Indian fab to achieve a production yield of around 95% and reliability requirements that can extend to 15 years, depending on the application.