Govt launches Digital India FutureLABS to boost electronics system design

Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Saturday launched the Digital India FutureLABS programme for the Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector. Designed as a public-private partnership (PPP) model initiative, Digital India FutureLABS, coordinated by CDAC (Center for Development of Advanced Computing), aims to create an ecosystem for the development of intellectual property (IP), standards, and next-generation electronics system design in the country.

This initiative will focus on the areas of compute, communication, automotive and mobility, strategic electronics, and industrial IoT by leveraging emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and quantum computing, among others.

The programme was launched at the Digital India FutureLABS Summit 2024, where 22 memorandums of understanding were signed between CDAC and the industry for the implementation of the program. Participant companies include names such as NXP Semiconductors, Tenstorrent, and Qualcomm India, who have signed MoUs in areas like high-performance computing space, design and innovation in the compute space, and the Indian telecom stack.

“We continue to support global companies and enterprises with our talent, while also taking the lead in developing technologies, intellectual properties, and solutions for ourselves and the world. India’s tech & innovation ecosystem is expanding and growing while catalysing the next wave of startups in AI to Semiconductors, Electronics System Design & Innovation starting at Digital India FutureLABS,” Minister Chandrasekhar said.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Interim Budget 2024-25 on February 1. One of the main takeaways of the budget was the announcement of a one-lakh-crore-rupee corpus to boost research and development (R&D) in technology and other sunrise sectors, supported by a 50-year interest-free loan. This initiative aims to provide long-term financing or refinancing with low or nil interest rates, a move expected to encourage the private sector to amplify research and innovation efforts. Furthermore, for FY25, the budget estimate for MeitY has been increased by 48.29% from ₹14,421.25 crore (Revised Estimate) to ₹21,385.15 crore.