Mohali fab unit’s modernizing model to be decided by yr-end

livemint.com:

Mohali: The government will take a call by the year end on whether Mohali-based Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL) will be developed further as a research and development facility or a commercial fab will be set up at the facility, according to a senior official. “The request for proposals for modernizing SCL has been issued only last week, but the government wants to move swiftly. Within a quarter, a call will be taken on which direction it will go, either R&D fab or a commercial fab," the official said, asking not to be named.

The ministry of electronics and information technology that issued a preliminary information memorandum seeking expressions of interest (EoI) from global and Indian players for modernizing SCL, is expecting responses latest by 21 October. “The future course of action also depends on the interest from private players to the modernization proposal," the official added. As per the EoI, the government is exploring two options.

One, transforming SCL into an R&D-led centre of excellence with semicon R&D capabilities encompassing advanced nodes, advanced packaging, compound semiconductors, design and EDA tools, materials and other R&D areas. Within this, a new R&D-cum-prototyping line for 300 mm wafer processing on advanced nodes – of 28nm or below – would be set up, with a roadmap on progressing from 28nm to 14nm and below nodes over time. This R&D fab could also have advanced packaging capabilities.

For this option, the government may provide 100% capital expenditure support. Two, converting it into an at-scale manufacturing entity with volume production of semiconductor devices or chips. This new commercial unit could do either silicon semiconductor chip fabrication, compound semiconductor chip