New Delhi, March 12 Semiconductor-related research activities in technical institutions are still largely supported by the Government (contributing 85-90 per cent to overall funding), and the top seven institutes in India account for bulk of the semiconductor research work undertaken in the academic institutes.

“The Government contributes to about 85-90 per cent of the funding in semiconductor research. The balance 10-15 per cent of the funds is provided by the industry players and other private institutes. Most of the industry support comes in the form of donations or sponsorship of EDA tools by leading EDA vendors. However, this support is limited primarily to the developed research centres,” according to a latest study released by the India Semiconductor Association (ISA).

The ‘Study on the status of semiconductor related research in Indian universities’ by Evalueserve pointed out that 70-75 per cent of the semiconductor research activities in technical institutes are concentrated in the top institutes — IISc Bangalore; the five IITs — in Chennai, Delhi, Kanpur, Kharagpur and Mumbai; and the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani.

Chip design and testing accounts for the largest share — around 43 per cent — of the research. Within this, analog and mixed signal design account for roughly half of the projects executed.

The ISA study mooted a public private partnership model to develop conducive environment for semiconductor R&D in India. Other recommendations include: promoting and setting-up of technology business incubators.

TBIs provide a robust platform for active industry-academia interactions and help convert a potential research idea into its commercial success. ISA also called for steps to enhance research infrastructure by developing dedicated research centres, by enhancing the standard of semiconductor labs to match with industry standards and by establishing semiconductor related research in R&D special economic zones.

“Also, the status of research scholars and faculty needs to be improved by providing performance-based incentives to faculty and research scholars, facilitating involvement of industry executives in academics and by creating awareness about job avenues amongst the PhD holders,” Ms Poornima Shenoy, President of ISA, said at a conference.