The Government of India has been making momentous progress in boosting the country’s semiconductor design capabilities through its ambitious Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme. So far, 23 cutting-edge chip design projects have been chiefly by Indian startups and MSMEs have been sanctioned under this initiative. These projects focus on developing indigenous semiconductor chips and system-on-chip (SoC) solutions aiming key areas such as surveillance, energy measurement, microprocessor intellectual property (IP) and networking technologies.

By providing access to industry-standard electronic design automation (EDA) tools, the government has enabled 72 companies to advance innovative chip designs. It signifies a significant step towards mitigating import dependency and achieving self-sufficiency in semiconductor technology which is a key step towards India’s technological and economic future.

Empowering Indian Startups: Spotlight on Vervesemi Microelectronics

Among the leaders benefiting from the DLI scheme is Vervesemi Microelectronics, a fabless semiconductor company founded in 2017. Vervesemi is prominent as one of the early Indian firms to export semiconductor IP worldwide. The company’s portfolio boasts more than 110 proprietary IPs, 25 IC SKUs, 10 patents, and 5 commercial secrets, operating a diverse range of applications across aerospace, defense, industrial automation, and smart energy sectors.

Vervesemi’s chips exclusively integrate embedded machine learning, empowering features like self-healing systems, fault tolerance, adaptive calibration, and predictive diagnosis. This approach vividly increases chip reliability, performance, and power efficiency, setting new standards for the Indian semiconductor industry.

Rakesh Malik, founder and CEO of Vervesemi, highlighted the importance of these advancements saying, “By building high-performance, Made-in-India ICs for strategic and consumer markets, we are driving import substitution and demonstrating India’s capability to compete globally.”

Roadmap to Indigenous Chip Manufacturing and Global Impact

Vervesemi’s development pipeline is ambitious and aligned closely with the country’s semiconductor goals. Their upcoming product roadmap consist of:

• BLDC Controller ASIC: Designed for small motor applications like fans and appliances under the MeitY-supported Chips to Startup (C2S) Program, with samples anticipated in 2026.
• Precision Motor-Control ASIC: Targeted at electric vehicles, drones, and industrial automation, this DLI-recognized project aims for a 2026 sampling window.
• Multifunction Data Acquisition ASIC: Developed for space and avionics sectors, incorporating advanced machine learning for mission-critical aerospace applications.
• Weighing Scale and Bridge Sensor ASIC: Empowering next-gen weighing systems with high precision, expected for sampling by late 2025.
• Smart Energy Metering ASIC: Designed for ultra-accurate, high-speed energy measurement with predictive maintenance capabilities, targeting the end of 2025 for samples.

The Future of Semiconductor Design in India

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) continues to play an important role in promoting semiconductor innovation through schemes like DLI and C2S. As Smt. Sunita Verma, Group Coordinator (R&D), MeitY, remarks, “India’s ambition is to become a world leader in semiconductor design, envisioning a future where every device globally contains a designed-in-India chip.”

The government’s active incentives and support for startups and MSMEs have enhanced the pace of indigenous semiconductor design and manufacturing, minimizing dependence on import dependence and strengthening national security.

India’s semiconductor ecosystem is observing a transformation phase fuelled by innovations, strategic government initiatives, and visionary companies like Vervesemi Microelectronics. With volume production of key chips from late 2026 to early 2027, the country is poised to make a major mark on the global semiconductor map, developing cutting-edge technologies, intellectual property development, and self-sustained manufacturing to chart a new future for Indian electronics.