Union Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently explained how he and his ministry were working to build an all-inclusive semiconductor ecosystem in India, which would align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” vision.

In a four minute video shared on X (formerly Twitter), Vaishnaw could been seen explaining the different components involved in the process and the work that is happening behind-the-scenes to execute the plan.

“There are four main components in the entire process – Design, fabrication, or FAB, assembly-testing-marking-packaging, or ATMP, and electronics manufacturing, or circuit. The primary thing we are developing for this is a talent pool. The second big thing we are doing is research and development, or R&D,” Vaishnaw could be heard, saying in the video.

Vaishnaw revealed that the costliest tools were Electronic Design Automation, supplied by multinational companies such as Siemens and admitted that the centre had taken the tools and shared them with 104 universities across India, that included the IITs and tier-II and tier-III institutions.

“The most difficult and the most expensive tools, called Electronic Design Automation, or EDA, tools, are supplied by Cadence, Synopsys, and Siemens. These are very expensive. If you go to buy one, you will have to shell out Rs 10 crore-15 crore for just one license. So, we have spoken to these three companies and have taken their EDA tools and given them to 104 universities in the country.”

“We have given the license and login to not just the IITs, but also to the tier-II and tier-III universities so they can expose and train their students on how to use these tools live and not just in theory. The students can now take up a project and design a new mobile chip and make it. This will give birth to new start-ups and will add to our talent pool,” Vaishnaw said in the video.

The video saw many user comments, several of whom praised Vaishnaw for the knowledge that he possessed about the semiconductor ecosystem in India.

“Blessed to have such ministers. Hope the new voters realise what a positive change this is in comparison to previous governments. Kudos to Modi for his visionary team selection,” one user wrote.

“Ministers like Ashwini Vaishnaw are a treasure and should serve this nation for as long as possible,” another user wrote.