IIT Madras, ISRO Develop Indigenous Semiconductor
India Achieves Milestone in Semiconductor Development with ISRO and IIT Madras Collaboration
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has developed an advanced semiconductor chip, marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to indigenize critical technology for space and other sectors. The chip, known as IRIS (Indigenous RISCV Controller for Space Applications), was created based on the Shakti processor baseline, and has been designed to serve a variety of purposes, ranging from space applications to Internet of Things (IoT) and computing systems for strategic needs.
The development of the chip follows India's goal of self-reliance in advanced technologies. Manufactured in Chandigarh's semiconductor lab and packaged in Karnataka by Tata Advanced Systems, this achievement emphasizes India’s growing semiconductor capabilities. It was also a joint effort between IIT Madras and ISRO’s Inertial Systems Unit (ISU) in Thiruvananthapuram.
The IRIS chip’s design integrates fault-tolerant memory systems and has been built with future ISRO mission requirements in mind. The entire process, including chip design, fabrication, software, and hardware testing, was carried out within India, affirming the country's capacity to develop advanced semiconductor solutions.
In addition to showcasing India's semiconductor prowess, the project exemplifies ISRO’s and IIT Madras’ commitment to driving the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative, positioning India as a key player in the global semiconductor industry.
