Can countries truly secure their semiconductor future, which is not a mere component anymore? In this pursuit, RISC-V seems to be the turning point, returning technological control to national hands. How is it reshaping innovation, sovereignty, and global computing?
Semiconductors are no longer just components; they are the backbone of national security, technological leadership, and economic independence. Countries, now, do not back semiconductor programmes simply to create jobs. Chip capability is treated as a sovereign asset because no nation can afford to depend entirely on foreign suppliers or risk losing access to critical technology.
Every modern system, regardless of its field of application, eventually relies on semiconductor devices. The processing unit forms the core of every device. This is where the world’s upsurge in RISC-V (Reduced Instruction Set Computer – Five) has become the game changer.
RISC-V: the Linux moment for processors
RISC-V is an open-source Instruction Set Architecture (ISA). In contrast, proprietary architectures such as ARM (Advanced RISC Machines) have long dominated embedded computing but are closed, preventing developers from adding instructions for domain-specific algorithms that could accelerate hardware, thus limiting innovation.
RISC-V changes everything. Just as Linux freed users from costly proprietary operating systems, RISC-V opens processor design, enabling individuals, startups, academic institutions, and nations to create their own architectures and tailor processors to their needs.
The journey of RISC-V: a model for industry-academia collaboration
RISC-V represents the fifth generation of the Reduced Instruction Set Computing architecture developed at the University of California, Berkeley. The journey began in 1981 with RISC 1 and RISC 2. The architecture underwent almost 25 years of research and development (R&D) before becoming what it is today.
This long-term commitment demonstrates the strength of academic research and industry collaboration. India too can develop critical technologies through such academia–industry collaboration.
India’s semiconductor push: promise and bottlenecks
Meanwhile, India has also launched the Indian Semiconductor Mission (ISM) to increase domestic semiconductor capabilities. Domestic fabrication capabilities are also being built now. A major focus area is semiconductor design, which follows a compelling model in which chips are designed locally while fabrication is outsourced.
Obstacles to entry, however, are high. The biggest obstacle is the high cost of electronic design automation (EDA) tools needed for chip design. Software from Synopsys, Cadence, Mentor Graphics, and Siemens is very costly. Even though the government is issuing licences to universities and startups, the model remains unscalable due to structural constraints, high compliance costs, and limited capacity.
RISC-V can be a catalyst here. The instruction set fosters openness, promoting the evolution of open-source design tools and processes. This will be time-consuming, but the long-term potential will be transformative. Open ecosystems are less expensive, increase participation, and broaden the semiconductor innovation process.
Building a skilled workforce: the critical missing link
Both design and manufacturing need highly trained engineers. India has a strong talent pool in semiconductor design, but not in manufacturing. With local capacity limited, firms like Tata Electronics send hundreds of engineers to Taiwan for extensive training.
Expertise is built over time, as TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company)’s story shows. India can similarly develop world-class capability with organised training and perseverance.
Cost drivers in semiconductor design
Why is open source essential? Software (EDA) and verification drive chip development costs. Processor verification is tedious and expensive, and closed architectures limit the pool of engineers who can participate.
Open architectures like RISC-V enable global collaboration, increase the verification talent pool, reduce per-engineer costs, and accelerate development, significantly lowering startup barriers.
RISC-V adoption is spreading across a wide range of domains:
Automotive
Modern automobiles have more electronics than mechanics. Each subsystem has unique power, safety, and performance requirements. Automakers are rapidly evolving into software-based firms and require customised processors that give them complete control. RISC-V enables manufacturers to customise processors to their needs, enhancing ownership of their supply chains.
The criticality of semiconductors in automotive was painfully demonstrated during the world chip shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Artificial intelligence
It is very costly to train artificial intelligence (AI). Recently, one of the chief executives noted that it costs nearly $1 billion to train a single model. Most of this expense is based on high-end compute hardware, such as NVIDIA graphics processing units (GPUs).
RISC-V enables companies to fabricate efficient, customised compute units ideal for AI workloads, creating cost-effective AI accelerators with specialised instructions and dedicated hardware, all without proprietary restrictions.
Defence and space
Defence and space sectors need secure, customisable architectures. RISC-V’s transparent design allows thorough audits and bespoke security enhancements.
Another breakthrough in India was that IIT Madras (Indian Institute of Technology Madras), in collaboration with ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), successfully bootstrapped the Atmanirbhar aerospace-quality Shakti processor, based on RISC-V. This has been enabled by a clear, trusted, and customisable processor design.
Defence agencies, such as the United States Department of Defense (DoD), are promoting open-source design flows worldwide through programmes like the Pentagon-supported Open Roads.
The market opportunity
It is estimated that by 2030, the global semiconductor market will reach approximately $110 billion, and India is expected to account for nearly 10% of global demand. The value of semiconductor processing units lies at the heart of programmable compute based on RISC-V, which will capture a significant share of future opportunities.
Budget priorities and government initiatives
The government of India has been investing heavily in building a robust semiconductor ecosystem. Approximately $10.2 billion has been distributed across five key verticals: semiconductor fabrication units, display fabrication units, compound semiconductors, advanced packaging units, and semiconductor design.
We are currently interested in semiconductor design. To accelerate growth, the government has introduced product design and development incentives. As design is affordable, more fantastic firms could enter the industry with their designs for processors and systems. As innovation accelerates, government subsidies help sustain scale and economic feasibility.
About 2.5% of government spending goes towards training and talent development. While India has strong design talent, manufacturing expertise is newer and requires investment.
The return of hardware
To see the resurgence of hardware, we can look at the entire OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model stack. Conventionally, the physical and data link layers were supported solely by specialised hardware. In the modern world, all layers of the stack are hardware-accelerated. This has generated a combustible demand for semiconductor design capabilities.
India will need nearly one million semiconductor professionals by 2026. Achieving this requires strong foundations in semiconductor fundamentals, system design, software engineering, and deep domain knowledge. Next-generation processor design will be increasingly cross-functional.
RISC-V aligns with this shift. It has grown into an international substitute that is being invested in by the key semiconductor firms. Older players in the industry, such as ARM, are also finding ways to keep up with RISC-V’s rising popularity. Now is the time for stakeholders: industry, academia, and government, to actively collaborate and propel India’s RISC-V ecosystem forward.
Are strategic partnerships the only sustainable path ahead?
Recognising this complexity, it is essential that stakeholders actively collaborate across borders to strengthen resilience in the semiconductor value chain. No country is wholly self-sufficient. ASML (Advanced Semiconductor Materials Lithography) in the Netherlands produces advanced lithography systems, while TSMC in Taiwan leads in manufacturing. Raw materials, machinery, intellectual property, and design tools are all sourced globally. Concerted international cooperation is necessary to navigate such interdependence.
This fact renders strategic alliances necessary. India should work harmoniously across intellectual property, design tools, materials, wafer fabrication, and advanced packaging. Complete independence is not possible, as the ecosystem presupposes decades of growth and the global knowledge base. Even TSMC took half a century to reach its current size. India should therefore find depth where it can and build good partnerships where needed. The idea is not to grow fully isolated, but rather to grow steadily.
The Digital India RISC-V initiative to close the global gap
The Digital India RISC-V Initiative (DIR-V) is a national initiative to accelerate the development of RISC-V. The global competition is intensifying, especially in China, which is spending heavily on RISC-V development and implementation. India is now lagging behind these world leaders.
Lack of a systems-level mindset is one of the challenges. AI, machine learning, and cloud computing are among the most popular sectors of venture capital in India. Consequently, other disciplines such as mechanical engineering, avionics, instrumentation, and material science experience a drop in enrolments. The shrinking of many engineering departments across the country is underway.
However, it is impossible to grow the semiconductor industry without powerful systems thinking. In modern systems, hardware is combined with computer science, materials engineering, avionics, mechanical design, and chemical engineering. Failure to attend to all these disciplines undermines the core of the semiconductor ecosystem. India, therefore, has to take a broader systems approach to developing sustainable semiconductor capacity.
Active RISC-V Projects in India
India has two major open-source RISC-V initiatives.
- Shakti: Developed at IIT Madras, it has gained wide recognition, especially after its successful collaboration with ISRO to boot an aerospace-grade processor.
- Vega: Vega from C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) is also significant and continues to move towards market-ready deployment.
These projects reflect India’s growing commitment to indigenous processor design.
De-Risking through semiconductor self-reliance
The development of domestic capability in processor design is not only an economic goal. It is a strategic necessity.
De-risking against shortages
The pandemic had a devastating effect on many industries due to the global chip shortage.
De-risking critical sectors
All the key industries, defence, automobiles, power generation, and communications, are reliant on processors. Excess dependence on foreign technology has long-term weaknesses.
De-risking defence and space
Confidentiality and tamper resistance are essential for defence and space missions. Open-source designs, such as RISC-V, can provide complete insight into processor design.
The risk of future sanctions
The history of the era, marked by the denial of cryogenic engine technology in the nineteen nineties, illustrates how geopolitical sanctions may slow the nation’s development. These risks are minimised by building semiconductor independence.
Building the community
Two national bodies are strengthening India’s RISC-V and semiconductor ecosystem: the RISC-V India Developers Forum and the Bharat Semiconductor Society. The RISC-V India Developers Forum is building a robust talent pipeline through competitions, training, real-world projects, and internships, while the Bharat Semiconductor Society (BSS), headquartered in Chennai, is promoting nationwide awareness, collaboration, and community development. Together, they are lowering the cost of learning, expanding access through academia–industry engagement, and nurturing a vibrant community of innovators powered by open-source tools. These efforts will be critical in shaping India’s long-term semiconductor capability and global competitiveness.
The article is based on the IEW seminar called ‘RISC-V For De “RISC” ing Semiconductor Self Reliance’ featuring the opening speech by Atul Laxmikumar Joshi, Principal SW Engineer, RISC-V Indian Developers Forum and BSS. It has been transcribed and curated by Vidushi Saxena, Journalist at EFY.
