India Approves 23 Chip Design Projects Under DLI Scheme to Boost Semiconductor Innovation

India has taken a major step in its semiconductor journey by clearing 23 chip design projects under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme, part of the ₹76,000 crore Semicon India Programme, reported Business Standard. 

What Is the DLI Scheme?

• Launched in December 2021 as part of the ₹76,000 crore Semicon India Programme.
• Supports startups, MSMEs, and academic institutions in semiconductor design.
• Offers:
  • Up to ₹15 crore per project for prototyping and commercialization.
  • 4–6% incentives on net sales turnover for five years (capped at ₹30 crore).
  • Access to Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools and IP cores.

Approved Chip Design Projects Under India’s DLI Scheme

While the full list of all 23 projects hasn’t been publicly disclosed, several key initiatives and companies have been highlighted by MeitY and media reports.

Notable Approved Projects

Company	Project Focus	Timeline
Vervesemi Microelectronics	ICs for weighing scales, bridge sensors, smart energy meters, BLDC motor controllers, EV/drone motor control, aerospace data acquisition	Sampling between end-2025 and 2026
SiCSem	Silicon carbide-based chip solutions	Details pending
Continental Device India Pvt. Ltd (CDIL)	Legacy and strategic semiconductor components	Details pending
3D Glass Solutions Inc.	Advanced packaging and interconnect technologies	Details pending
ASIP Technologies	System-in-package innovations for compact electronics	Details pending

Approved Projects Snapshot

• Applications include surveillance cameras, energy meters, microprocessor IPs, and networking systems.
• Vervesemi Microelectronics among key beneficiaries, developing:
  • Smart energy metering ASICs
  • Motor-control chips for EVs and drones
  • Data acquisition ICs for aerospace
  • BLDC controller ASICs for appliances

Strategic Impact

Impact Area	Details
Import Substitution	Reduces reliance on foreign chip designs
Job Creation	Thousands of new jobs across six states
Global Competitiveness	Positions India as a chip design leader
Manufacturing Synergy	Aligns with ₹1.6 trillion investment in fab projects under ISM

Why It Matters

• India is transitioning from a chip consumer to a global contributor in semiconductor design.
• The DLI scheme empowers domestic innovation and builds a resilient tech ecosystem.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is the central driving force behind India’s semiconductor design push through the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme. MeitY launched the DLI Scheme in December 2021 as part of the ₹76,000 crore Semicon India Programme to build a robust domestic semiconductor ecosystem.

MeitY has facilitated access to Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools for 72 companies and 278 academic institutions, enabling advanced chip design capabilities.

Through the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), MeitY also oversees manufacturing projects worth ₹1.6 trillion, ensuring synergy between design and production.