Hyderabad Defence Laboratory Hosts Curtain Raiser for National Innovation Conclave; Indigenous Silicon Carbide and GaN Technologies Signal Strategic Autonomy in Critical Defence and Clean Energy Sectors
Hyderabad reinforced its position as India’s premier defence technology hub this week as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) organized a curtain raiser at the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) for the upcoming Emerging Science, Technology & Innovation Conclave (ESTIC-2025), while simultaneously announcing major indigenous breakthroughs in semiconductor technology critical to national security and technological sovereignty.
Semiconductor Milestone Announced
At the October 17, 2025 event, Secretary of the Department of Defence Research & Development and DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V Kamat announced that DRDO has achieved 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. These advancements also include Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs) with power capabilities up to 40W, suitable for applications extending to X-band frequencies.
“Semiconductors have become vital to national security, economic progress, and technological sovereignty,” Dr.Kamat emphasized, underscoring their central role in modern technology ecosystems powering critical systems in healthcare, communications, transport, defence, and space. As global economies move towards deeper digitalization and automation, semiconductor self-reliance has emerged as a strategic imperative for India’s future.
Indigenous Manufacturing
The establishment of indigenous GaN on SiC-based MMIC production has been successfully implemented at GAETEC (Gallium Arsenide Enabling Technology Centre), Hyderabad. These state-of-the-art multifunctional MMICs cater to wide applications in next-generation strategic systems, space exploration, aerospace, and 5G/satellite communications.
GAETEC, a unit of the Society for Integrated Technology Applications and Research (SITAR) under the Government of India, manufactures high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs), monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs), semiconductor lasers, and terahertz devices based on III-V compound semiconductors like Gallium Arsenide and Gallium Nitride. The facility has been upgraded with capabilities extending up to 40 GHz for production.
The GaN/SiC technology offers improved efficiency, reduced size and weight, and enhanced performance, making it essential for future combat systems, radar technologies, electronic warfare systems, and green energy solutions. With rising demands for lighter and more compact power supplies in future combat systems, this technology provides a vital foundation for communications, intelligence, reconnaissance, and unmanned systems for both military and commercial sectors, including electric vehicles and renewable energy.
India’s Semiconductor Mission
Referring to India’s semiconductor journey since the launch of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) in 2021, Dr.Kamat noted that India has transitioned from vision to implementation in just four years. He reaffirmed the national aspiration to position India among the world’s top three nations in semiconductors by 2036 in the domains of research, innovation, and workforce development.
The ISM, launched with a total financial outlay of ₹76,000 crore under the Ministry of Electronics and IT, provides fiscal support to companies investing in semiconductors, display manufacturing, and design ecosystem. Within four years, the mission has approved 10 semiconductor projects with investments exceeding ₹1.6 lakh crore across six states including Gujarat, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Punjab.
Major projects underway include the Tata-PSMC fabrication unit in Dholera, Gujarat, with an investment of ₹91,526 crore, set to produce 50,000 wafers per month for automotive and AI applications by 2026; the Micron ATMP facility in Sanand, Gujarat, expected to be operational by late 2025; and multiple OSAT (Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test) facilities that will collectively produce millions of chips daily.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in his 79th Independence Day address that Made-in-India semiconductor chips will be available in the market by the end of 2025, marking a major milestone in India’s push for technological self-reliance under the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
ESTIC-2025: Flagship Innovation Platform
The curtain raiser previewed ESTIC-2025, scheduled for November 3-5, 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, under the theme “Viksit Bharat 2047 – Pioneering Sustainable Innovation, Technological Advancement, and Empowerment”. The conclave is being jointly organized by 13 Ministries and Departments of the Government under the guidance of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.
As one of the key organizers, DRDO is leading the thematic session on “Electronics & Semiconductor Manufacturing,” one of 11 thematic sessions at the conclave. The other thematic areas encompass Advanced Materials & Manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence, Bio-Manufacturing, Blue Economy, Digital Communications, Emerging Agricultural Technologies, Energy-Environment-Climate, Health & Medical Technologies, Quantum Science & Technology, and Space Technologies.
The conclave will feature plenary addresses by Nobel Laureates and global experts, thematic technical discussions with science and technology leaders, women entrepreneurs and deep-tech startup CEOs, plus exhibitions by deep-tech startups and poster forums for young scientists, faculty, and engineers. With over 75 exhibition stalls reserved for startups and a dedicated PitchX innovation platform for investment pitching, ESTIC-2025 is designed as an outcome-oriented forum fostering collaborations among researchers, entrepreneurs, industry, and funding bodies.
Hyderabad’s Defence Technology Legacy
The curtain raiser event at DRDL Hyderabad underscored the city’s seven-decade legacy as India’s defence technology nerve centre. Hyderabad hosts a comprehensive ecosystem of premier DRDO laboratories that have shaped India’s strategic capabilities since independence.
The Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), established in 1961 and relocated to Hyderabad after the state government granted the former Nizam’s army barracks, serves as the design and development house for missile-based weapon systems deployable from underwater, sea, land, and air-based platforms. DRDL has been instrumental in developing systems including the Akash surface-to-air missile, Astra air-to-air missile, Nag anti-tank guided missile, and QRSAM surface-to-air missile.
Recent groundbreaking work includes a 120-second ground test of an Active Cooled Scramjet Subscale Combustor conducted on January 21, 2025, demonstrating stable combustion and successful ignition for hypersonic applications. This was followed by another ground test on April 25, 2025, for over 1,000 seconds, readying the system for full-scale flight testing.
The city’s defence ecosystem extends beyond DRDL to include the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL), responsible for developing advanced metallic and ceramic materials and related processing technologies for critical defence applications; Research Centre Imarat (RCI), focusing on avionics and systems integration; Advanced Numerical Research and Analysis Group (ANURAG), specializing in computational systems; and Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL), concentrating on electronic warfare and sensor technologies.
This concentration of expertise has made Hyderabad the epicenter of India’s missile development program, including the historic Integrated Guided Missiles Development Program (IGMDP) that produced India’s strategic deterrence capabilities.
Public-Private Partnership Strengthens Defence Ecosystem
The indigenous semiconductor breakthrough reflects a broader transformation in India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem, characterized by increasing public-private collaboration. Hyderabad has emerged as a focal point for this partnership model, hosting both government research institutions and private sector innovators.
Private sector players have established significant presence in Hyderabad’s aerospace and defence corridor. Adani Elbit Advanced Systems India Limited operates the first private UAV manufacturing complex at Adani Aerospace Park in Hyderabad, producing the Hermes 900 multi-role unmanned platform—the sole Hermes 900 manufacturing facility outside Israel. Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) maintains partnerships with international aerospace giants including Lockheed Martin and Boeing, contributing to India’s defence manufacturing capabilities.
The Strategic Partnerships Policy, approved in May 2017 and incorporated into the Defence Procurement Procedure 2016, has facilitated this private sector participation, aiming to reduce import dependence while increasing efficiency, competition, and technology absorption. The increase in Foreign Direct Investment in defence from 49% to 74% under the automatic route in 2020 has further attracted fresh investments and expedited technology inflows.
Talent Development & Workforce Readiness
Supporting the semiconductor mission, the government has initiated a comprehensive program to train 85,000 engineers in advanced semiconductor and electronics manufacturing. Already, more than 60,000 students have availed benefits of the talent development programme, with design infrastructure support provided to 278 academic institutions and 72 startups.
This talent pipeline is critical for India’s ambition to become a global semiconductor hub. The country’s growing world-class chip design capabilities, propelled by government-supported design infrastructure, positions India competitively in the global electronics value chain.
Strategic Significance for Viksit Bharat 2047
Dr.Kamat’s announcement at the DRDL curtain raiser connects India’s semiconductor self-reliance directly to the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision—the government’s comprehensive roadmap for transforming India into a developed nation by its centenary of independence.
The strategic autonomy achieved through indigenous semiconductor manufacturing extends beyond economic considerations to encompass national security imperatives. In an era of heightened geopolitical tensions and supply chain vulnerabilities exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, semiconductors have become instruments of geopolitical leverage. India’s dependence on a handful of countries—particularly Taiwan, South Korea, China, Japan, and the United States—for over 60% of global semiconductor production represents a strategic vulnerability.
By developing indigenous capabilities in critical semiconductor materials like Silicon Carbide and Gallium Nitride, India reduces this dependence while securing supply chains for defence systems, space technologies, and critical infrastructure. The dual-use nature of these technologies—applicable to both defence and civilian sectors including electric vehicles and renewable energy—amplifies their strategic value.
Global Context
India’s semiconductor journey, while starting from a relatively nascent position compared to global leaders, has demonstrated remarkable momentum. Taiwan’s TSMC and South Korea’s Samsung lead in cutting-edge chip production, while the United States focuses on design, R&D, and high-tech equipment. Japan contributes through materials and components, and China is rapidly expanding domestic capabilities with state support.
However, India’s comprehensive approach—spanning wafer fabrication, ATMP/OSAT (Assembly, Testing, Marking, and Packaging / Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test), compound semiconductors, design ecosystems, and talent development—positions the country to build resilience across the semiconductor value chain rather than attempting complete self-sufficiency in every segment.
The successful implementation of 10 approved projects at different stages of execution, combined with indigenous R&D breakthroughs like the 4-inch SiC wafers and GaN HEMTs, signals that India’s semiconductor mission is moving from aspiration to realization.
Regional Innovation Ecosystem Convergence
The ESTIC-2025 curtain raiser in Hyderabad reflects the convergence of multiple innovation ecosystems within Telangana. The state’s semiconductor ambitions complement broader deep-tech initiatives including the aerospace cluster at Adibatla, electronics manufacturing at E-City, pharmaceuticals at Genome Valley, and mobility technologies near Shamshabad announced by Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka earlier this month.
T-Works, India’s largest prototyping center spanning 78,000 square feet with plans to expand to 250,000 square feet, provides crucial infrastructure for hardware innovation supporting both defence and civilian applications. Premier educational institutions including IIT Hyderabad, IIIT Hyderabad, and University of Hyderabad supply the talent pipeline essential for sustaining semiconductor and defence technology innovation.
The Defence Laboratories School-RCI, established in 1988 under the initiative of former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, has nurtured generations of children of defence scientists, creating intergenerational expertise that strengthens Hyderabad’s defence technology ecosystem.
From Labs to Markets
The path from laboratory breakthroughs to commercial manufacturing requires sustained investment, policy support, and ecosystem development. The capital-intensive nature of semiconductor manufacturing, requiring massive amounts of water and uninterrupted electricity, presents infrastructure challenges that India continues to address through mission-mode implementation.
However, the progress demonstrated—from the India Semiconductor Mission’s approval of 10 projects to DRDO’s indigenous development of critical semiconductor materials—indicates that India’s semiconductor journey has achieved critical momentum. The first Made-in-India chips expected by late 2025, combined with the indigenous SiC and GaN capabilities announced by Dr.Kamat, represent tangible milestones on the roadmap to 2036 when India aims to rank among the world’s top three semiconductor nations.
Strategic Convergence in Hyderabad
The DRDO curtain raiser at DRDL Hyderabad on October 17, 2025, encapsulated the strategic convergence of India’s defence technology heritage with its semiconductor future. By hosting the preview for ESTIC-2025 in the city that has served as India’s missile technology nerve centre for six decades, DRDO underscored Hyderabad’s continuing centrality to national security innovation.
The indigenous development of Silicon Carbide wafers and Gallium Nitride HEMTs by DRDO laboratories, now in production at GAETEC Hyderabad, transforms India from a semiconductor importer to a producer of critical materials for next-generation defence, aerospace, and clean energy applications. This achievement, combined with the broader India Semiconductor Mission’s progress toward commercial chip manufacturing, positions India on a trajectory toward technological sovereignty essential for the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
As ESTIC-2025 prepares to convene India’s innovation ecosystem in New Delhi this November, the foundations laid in Hyderabad’s defence laboratories—from missile systems to semiconductor breakthroughs—demonstrate the power of sustained public investment in strategic technologies, now amplified through public-private partnerships and integrated into a comprehensive national mission. The journey from laboratory to market, from dependence to self-reliance, continues with Hyderabad at its technological heart.
– M Ramakrishna Dasari
