Chips to Start-ups (C2S) Programme

According to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), more than 68,000 students have been trained in semiconductor chip design under the government’s Chips to Start-ups (C2S) Programme.

Background and Objective

The Chips to Start-ups (C2S) Programme is an umbrella capacity-building initiative launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in 2022.

The programme seeks to strengthen India’s semiconductor ecosystem by developing skilled human resources and encouraging innovation in chip design and related technologies. It also seeks to make academic institutions more actively involved in India's semiconductor value chain.

Funding and Targets

The programme has a total financial outlay of ₹250 crore for a period of five years.

Its principal target is to develop 85,000 industry-ready professionals at the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels. In addition to human-resource development, the programme aims to catalyse the incubation of 25 start-ups and facilitate 10 technology transfers.

Capacity Building and Innovation

The C2S Programme seeks to provide students with access to SMART lab facilities and aims to train one lakh students. It also envisages the generation of 50 patents and support for at least 2,000 focused research publications.

Through these activities, the programme focuses on innovation, employability and practical semiconductor skills, thereby helping academic institutions contribute more directly to India's growing semiconductor industry.

Hands-on Semiconductor Training

A key feature of the programme is its emphasis on practical, hands-on learning rather than classroom-based training alone. Students receive exposure to different stages of semiconductor development, including chip design, fabrication and testing.

Regular training sessions are conducted in collaboration with industry partners, while students also receive mentorship and practical support for undertaking semiconductor-related projects.

Access to Advanced Technology

Participating students receive access to advanced chip-design tools, fabrication facilities and testing resources. These include state-of-the-art Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software and access to semiconductor foundries.

Such facilities allow students to gain practical experience with technologies and processes used in the real-world semiconductor industry.

Development of Chip Prototypes

The programme also enables students and institutions to undertake Research and Development (R&D) projects for developing functional semiconductor prototypes.

These projects can involve the development of Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Systems-on-Chip (SoCs) and Intellectual Property (IP) Core designs. Thus, the programme creates a pathway from academic learning and research to prototype development and eventual commercialisation.

Significance for India’s Semiconductor Ecosystem

The C2S Programme is designed to address the shortage of skilled semiconductor professionals while simultaneously encouraging research, intellectual property creation, start-ups and technology transfer.

By connecting students, academic institutions, industry partners, semiconductor design tools, fabrication facilities and research projects, the programme seeks to strengthen India's capabilities across different stages of the semiconductor value chain.