DRDO Chairman emphasises semiconductors’ role in India’s tech and national security push

DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat highlights semiconductors as critical to India’s technological sovereignty, national security, and modern industries. He cites progress under the India Semiconductor Mission and previews ESTIC-2025, aimed at sustainable innovation and tech empowerment

Hyderabad: Department of Defence Research and Development Secretary and DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat underlined the central role of semiconductors in modern technology ecosystems, powering critical systems in healthcare, communications, transport, defence, and space.

Addressing at the curtain raiser event of Emerging Science, Technology & Innovation Conclave (ESTIC-2025) organised by the DRDO at DRDL here, Dr Kamat highlighted that as global economies move towards deeper digitalisation and automation, semiconductors have become vital to national security, economic progress, and technological sovereignty.

---

Referring to India’s semiconductor journey, Dr Kamat noted that since the launch of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) in 2021, the country transitioned from vision to implementation in just four years.

The DRDO has made significant strides in semiconductor technology by developing indigenous methods for producing 4-inch Silicon Carbide (SiC) wafers and fabricating Gallium Nitride (GaN) High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs) up to 150W, he said.

The ESTIC-2025 is being jointly organised by 13 ministries and departments of the government under the guidance of Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India. The conclave will be held on the theme ‘Viksit Bharat 2047 – Pioneering Sustainable Innovation, Technological Advancement, and Empowerment’ at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from November 3 to 5.