Arm has opened a new chip design center in Bengaluru focused on advanced 2nm chips. Union IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw called it a milestone for India's semiconductor goals, making Arm the second company after Renesas to reach this level domestically.

According to The Economic Times, Money Control, and CNBC-TV18, Arm has inaugurated a new design center in Bengaluru that will focus on developing some of the world's most advanced chips, including at the 2nm level. India's Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who opened the facility on September 16, 2024, said the initiative makes Arm the second company after Renesas to pursue such advanced design in India. He noted that the chips will power AI servers, drones, and smartphones, underscoring India's rising role in global semiconductor research and development.

• Government strategy expands beyond design

Vaishnaw highlighted that Arm's move is part of a broader strategy to position India as a hub for cutting-edge chip design while building capacity in mature nodes. Under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), the government has announced 10 semiconductor units — two fabrication plants and eight assembly, testing, marking, and packaging facilities — with Gujarat's Sanand site expected to deliver the first made-in-India chip. Pilot production at additional units is also set to begin soon.

• Comprehensive ecosystem development

The minister emphasized the importance of developing a comprehensive ecosystem, encompassing design, manufacturing, equipment, materials, and talent. He pointed to partnerships with ASML, IBM Albany, and IMEC, as well as India's work to secure rare earth elements and expand research infrastructure. The government is supporting 278 institutions with access to advanced design tools, which have already enabled students to tape out 28 chip designs domestically. Plans to modernize the Semiconductor Lab in Mohali are also underway, aimed at expanding production and providing startups and researchers with facilities to validate their designs without relying on overseas fabrication facilities.

• Strategic roadmap for self-reliance

Looking ahead, Vaishnaw said ISM 2.0 will place greater emphasis on equipment and materials to ensure the long-term sustainability of the ecosystem. He also announced efforts to create 25 strategic chipsets for domestic and global markets with intellectual property rooted in India. "Our ambition is to develop the complete semiconductor stack," he said, adding that the momentum shown by companies such as Arm reflects the country's growing talent base and the government's commitment to making India a critical site for advanced semiconductor research and development.