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The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) has announced a significant collaboration with two private sector companies to design and develop an indigenous High-Performance Computing (HPC) Processor System on Chip (SoC) named AUM. This project is based on the Arm® architecture and utilises TSMC’s (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited) 5nm technology node, marking a major step in India’s quest for technological self-reliance.
C-DAC, established to spearhead supercomputing technology in India, has made substantial progress in indigenisation. The organisation has previously developed the RUDRA compute node, Trinetra-Interconnect, and a comprehensive System Software stack. Now, the focus is on achieving complete indigenisation by designing the HPC Processor AUM. To this end, C-DAC has engaged an Indian startup as the Programme Management Consultant (PMC) for the project.
In this ambitious venture, C-DAC is collaborating with a company from India and another from Japan. The design of the AUM processor is based on the high-performance Arm Neoverse™ V2 CPU platform and incorporates advanced packaging technology, providing a competitive edge by retaining ownership of unique differentiators.
Mr S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), emphasised the government’s commitment to technological sovereignty, “Our indigenisation efforts have reached more than 50% with server nodes, interconnects, and system software stack. Now, for complete indigenisation, we are aiming to develop the indigenous HPC Processor AUM.”
Dr Praveen Kumar S, Head of Scientific Divisions at the Department of Science and Technology, highlighted the significance of this achievement in chip design, “It demonstrates India’s capability in indigenous development in high-performance computing. These ventures in consortia mode with industry partnerships are the need of the hour.”
Mr E Magesh, Director General of C-DAC, added that the collaboration aims to meet the evolving demands of HPC and related applications. “This project is designed to produce an indigenous HPC processor that not only meets global standards but also propels India to the forefront of the supercomputing arena.”
The National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), funded by MeitY and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), aims to position India as a global leader in supercomputing. Launched to enhance India’s capability in solving grand challenge problems of national and global relevance, NSM involves C-DAC developing and deploying HPC systems at leading R&D and academic institutions across the country.
The government aims to propel India towards a technologically advanced future, leveraging supercomputing for national development and global leadership.
OpenGov Asia reported that an IIT-Madras start-up has launched the Secure IOT microcontroller chip, India’s first domestically designed and marketed microprocessor. Based on RISC-V architecture, the chip offers high performance at 700 MHz and is 30% cheaper than competitors.
Secure IOT aims to reduce reliance on imported components, targeting applications in smart appliances, wearables, and smart city infrastructure. Despite challenges, the start-up developed the chip ahead of schedule, showcasing India’s potential in deep technology. IIT-Madras continues to drive innovation in various sectors, including healthcare and intelligent transportation.
Similarly, ChipIN, India’s leading hub for chip designers, has received significant support from key semiconductor industry players, marking a pivotal moment in semiconductor design innovation and collaboration.
The ChipIN Center will provide advanced Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools to 85,000 students, fostering talent and groundbreaking research. The recent futureDESIGN Roadshow announced further industry backing, enhancing ChipIN’s resources for researchers and startups.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s schemes support this ecosystem, benefiting over 100 academic institutions. This collaboration aims to advance India’s semiconductor design capabilities, drive economic growth, and promote technological self-reliance.
These various initiatives and collaborations represent significant milestones in India’s journey towards technological independence, underscoring the critical role of advanced, domestic computing in the nation’s future.
