Heat is now one of the most closely watched markers of climate change. The World Meteorological Organisation notes that the past 10 years have been the warmest on record, with 2023 alone bringing unprecedented heatwaves across Asia, Europe, and North America. 

July 2025 was the third-warmest July globally (after July 2023 and 2024), according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. The average sea surface temperature was also the third highest on record. 

Rising temperatures threaten crop yields, accelerate water stress, and intensify urban heat islands, yet monitoring systems remain patchy. The United Nations Secretary-General’s Early Warnings for All (EW4ALL) initiative aims to ensure every person on Earth is protected by early warning systems by 2027. 

Thermal imaging, often described as taking the Earth’s temperature from above, provides a means to track these changes in real time and offer data to governments, farmers, and planners, so that they can act before crises unfold.

India’s SatLeo Labs, a space tech startup based out of Ahmedabad, is working on a satellite constellation designed to act like a thermometer for the planet. The company plans to use thermal imaging from space to monitor rising temperatures, greenhouse gases, and water stress, problems it says are already reshaping economies and communities.

What is the Urgency?

The Indian government has also moved to back private space companies through policy and funding by introducing the ₹1,000 crore VC fund for the sector. Gujarat, too, has recently announced a 25% subsidy for space startups. 

Shravan Bhati, co-founder and CEO of SatLeo Labs, in an exclusive interaction with AIM, said that the company’s technology is designed to address pressing challenges. “Four lakh people lost their lives last year just because of the heat islands, 50,000 people lost their lives, just in Europe, right?” said Bhati, adding that SatLeo’s data identifies where such heat islands are developing and can even predict where it could happen. 

For Bhati, the goal is simple: space data should be practical. “Space tech is a very interesting area, but I think we should also focus on the challenges, what problem we are solving, right? That’s very important,” he said.

He mentioned the ‘National Geospatial Policy’ that allows private (Indian) players to map areas with one-metre resolution, a shift that has encouraged more startups to enter the geospatial sector. He added that ISRO continues to support young firms by providing access to testing and manufacturing facilities.

SatLeo has signed agreements with government and private bodies, and will initially focus on the Indian and the Middle East markets, before expanding to Europe and the Americas.

Pilots on the Ground

Bhati explained that rising heat is reducing crop yields and stressing water resources. “By 2050, it [world population] will be around 9.7 billion, and we will need 70% more food. Because of rising temperatures, 30% of the yield will be reduced, and we still do not have any monitoring system of the temperature,” he said.

Thermal data can identify water stress more than a month before it becomes visible to the human eye. This, he argued, will be key for farming and food security.

SatLeo has also initiated pilot projects with municipal authorities. “We are working closely with Tumkur Municipal Corporation, where we are using this data to identify and solve multiple problems, to start with solid waste dumps,” Bhati said.

The company’s AI platform, SatLeo insight hub portal, analyses thermal views of urban areas to flag issues. Through this platform, the Tumkur Municipal Corporation is able to identify emission of the greenhouse gases around their solid systems. “We are also identifying the thermal patterns of the city and that’s very important for planning,” he said.

Bhati explained that the technology relies on multiple thermal bands, including mid-wave infrared and long-wave infrared (MWIR & LWIR), which can cut through thin clouds and haze. This approach improves the data accuracy, making it reliable for urban planning and agriculture.

SatLeo is also in talks with other cities to provide them similar applications, from tracking heat islands to improving plantation strategies.

Building the Satellites

The startup recently closed a pre-seed round of $3.3 million in May to develop its high-resolution thermal and visible imaging technology from Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

“We will be using this fund for the manufacturing of our two platforms,” Bhati said. The first, Tapas, is a CubeSat platform for thermal analytics, while the second, Pyro, is a larger 100-kg satellite. 

Tapas is scheduled to launch in February 2026, with Pyro to follow in late 2026 (Q4 2026).

The company wants to complete its constellation within three years. “We do not want to consume a lot of time,” he said.

Talent is central to the company’s technology as SatLeo’s team combines experienced scientists with young engineers, a balance that helps the startup manage challenges such as atmospheric noise in thermal data and improve accuracy in satellite analytics.

He added that the satellites will also use edge computing to process data onboard. By reducing transmission time, the system can support faster responses in disaster management and defence scenarios.

But, raising capital for a deep tech venture has been a steep climb, recalled Bhati. “We pitched to around 40 to 50 VCs. Some were asking irrelevant questions, some were interested, but most did not have much understanding of deep tech.”

Additionally, despite making 90% of its satellite components in India, SatLeo Labs still faces hurdles with imports. Bhati said there is still room for improvement in the customs department. 

One critical part is the detector, used in Earth observation satellites, which is not manufactured domestically and must be sourced from abroad. He explained that while draft rules exist to exempt space-based items from customs, authorised bodies to certify components are missing, creating delays and uncertainty.

The post This Ahmedabad Startup is Building a Thermometer for Earth appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

The Indian space economy is currently valued at approximately $8.4 billion, representing just 2% of the global space market. The government has set its sights on scaling the space economy to $44 billion by 2033, with $11 billion expected from exports, raising India’s share to about 7-8% worldwide. 

At the recent International Conference on Space 2025 event in Bengaluru, industry leaders proposed an even bolder target of capturing 10% of the global market share. India’s space journey, however, has historically been cautious. 

Institutional conservatism, shaped by past controversies, has often limited risk-taking. Yet, startups are pushing the boundaries with bold projects. Industry leaders agree that India’s space future will hinge on two critical factors: how much risk private players are willing to take and how swiftly regulation can adapt.

Achieving the 10% share will require private players to take on more ambitious projects, supported by a regulatory framework that keeps pace with innovation.

ISRO’s Legacy

The story of India’s space sector is tied to both success and setbacks. Lt Gen Anil Kumar Bhatt (retd), director general of the Indian Space Association (ISpA), recalled in a conversation with AIM, “In the whole story of ISRO or space, there was an organisation called Devas Multimedia. It had one so-called wrong deal (the Antrix-Devas deal 2005), which has been bashed up as a supreme corruption.” 

Antrix Corporation was ISRO’s commercial arm, while Devas Multimedia was a startup founded by former ISRO officials and venture capitalists. Bhatt explained that episodes like these have made organisations like ISRO or NSIL inherently cautious. Their instinct is to follow the rules and not take many risks. 

This is precisely where the Indian space startups come into the picture.

While a cautious approach has served ISRO in avoiding failures, it has also limited opportunities for experimentation. Startups, on the other hand, are far more willing to embrace risks, Bhatt noted.

Startups Breaking New Ground

Examples abound of young firms moving faster than state institutions. “The ISRO chairman was present five times when Agnikul was being launched. He would not have gone for his project five times,” Bhatt pointed out.

Companies like Agnikul Cosmos and Skyroot Aerospace are testing indigenous launch vehicles. NSIL announced that the first fully industry-built polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV), called PSLV N1, is expected to launch later this year. These milestones signal that risk is gradually shifting from state agencies to private industry.

Yet, Bhatt acknowledged that not every venture will succeed. “Some will not succeed because it is a difficult technology. But we have to be ready,” he added.

Pawan Kumar Chandana, co-founder and CEO of Skyroot Aerospace, told AIM that India’s market share in the global space economy has been limited so far, as the company’s focus has primarily been on meeting strategic goals, such as addressing needs in security, weather forecasting, maritime navigation and similar applications.

Having established these capabilities, he urged that it is now time to scale up India’s presence in the commercial space sector. “We need launch vehicles developed with a sharp focus on addressing the pain points of global satellite operators and applications that provide solutions to international businesses,” he said.

He emphasised that private enterprises are best suited to take on this challenge. 

“We have seen this model succeed in the US, the world’s largest space market. The space industry complex in the US was initially building and supplying exclusively to NASA.”

However, once NASA shifted from prescriptive contracts that dictated exactly how products should be built to simply defining the outcomes they needed, the US witnessed rapid progress in innovation and capabilities, he added.

“The result speaks for itself.”

Meanwhile, in an exclusive interaction, Shravan Bhati, founder and CEO of SatLeo Labs, emphasised the need to first understand the contrasting mindsets at play. On one side is a startup ecosystem, and on the other is the mindset of a government organisation like ISRO. 

“[For instance], NASA does not approve any rocket if they are not 100% sure about it. They will not launch even with a 99% certainty. For SpaceX, on the other hand, the criteria is between 80-85%,” he said.

Policy in Transition

Multiple speakers at the space conference and panel stressed the need for regulation to adapt to the speed of private innovation. As Nikhil Arora, deputy director at IN-SPACe, put it, “Startups are very agile. Industry is very agile, and they are catching up with this technology in this sector very fast. Now the regulation and policy also have to catch up with that.”

The Indian Space Policy 2023, along with the creation of IN-SPACe as a regulator, has been seen as a step forward by many industry experts. However, gaps remain in areas like data sovereignty, space situational awareness and in-orbit services. 

Bhatt added that India still lacks an iconic entrepreneurial leader to push the sector forward. “When I ask somebody, what is my job, what do I do? I say I am looking for Elon Musk. For India, we require one.”

Musk has had a significant impact on how the world thinks of space. By pushing for reusable rockets, the cost of launches plunged and getting into orbit became even easier. This shift also opened the way for countries, governments and academia to collaborate on space exploration. The SpaceX founder even pushed for commercial satellite internet (Starlink) to connect remote areas of the world.

According to the US Federal Aviation Administration’s aerospace forecast for the fiscal years 2025-2045, the country conducted 142 launches by six operators in 2024, with SpaceX accounting for 83% with a total of 118 launches.

A combination of progressive policies, burgeoning talent and strategic technological innovations is fueling India’s ambitious plan to expand its share of the global space economy. 

In an exclusive conversation with AIM, Vishesh Vatsal, co-founder and CTO at SkyServe, explained that the recent space and remote sensing policies have been critical in reducing uncertainty and creating a conducive ecosystem. 

“We have a surface of engineering talent, and…the news of [commercialisation of space] has excited a lot of people into machine learning.” Specific segments are projected to grow exponentially, with demonstration demand expected to increase tenfold. “Let’s say demonstration demand, it will go 10x. In theory, that means we don’t have enough people to process the data.” 

The Balancing Act

India now needs to strike a balance between maintaining tight regulations for security and credibility, while enabling risk-taking by startups. The challenge is not just technical but also cultural.

As Bhatt put it, “It’s about how much you can spread the idea. And how much you can scale it and commercialise it.”The government is signalling support through funding schemes, public-private partnerships and global collaborations. However, in the end, success may come down to whether India can embrace risk while building trust.

The post India’s Space Story Needs Its Own Elon Musk appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

Every year, natural disasters disrupt millions of lives in India. Floods, glacial bursts and landslides often strike without warning, leaving officials scrambling to organise relief. The damage is measured not just in lives lost but also in homes destroyed and livelihoods interrupted. 

One of the biggest challenges is speed. Emergency teams often wait hours—or even days—for reliable ground information before they can act. By the time data arrives, the chance to prevent the worst damage has already slipped away.

Space-based observation has long promised a solution. Satellites can capture images of unfolding events across vast areas that would otherwise be hard to reach. Yet, the usefulness of those images is determined by how quickly they can be delivered. 

GS Srinivas Reddy, former director of the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC), explained this to AIM with a concrete example: “Some satellites have a repetitive coverage of 15 days. If the same-day coverage happens, I can get the data the next day. Otherwise, I may have to wait two or three days.”

Often, satellite data crawls through a long pipeline—from orbit to ground stations and then through multiple layers of processing before it becomes usable. This delay is precisely the gap a Bengaluru space-tech startup is now trying to close.

SkyServe is working on onboard processing for satellites, technology that could shorten the time between capturing an image and turning it into actionable insights on the ground. Vishesh Vatsal, co-founder and CTO at SkyServe, said that this shift could make a world of difference in disaster relief.

“We’re talking about turning hours into minutes,” he said in an exclusive interview with AIM, pointing out how slow data transfers can delay action during floods, glacial bursts or infrastructure failures.

“Especially for disaster-related response, if we can get satellite data in minutes instead of hours, it will be very useful,” Reddy added.

Building Satellites That ‘Think’

Having studied aerospace engineering at IIT Kanpur and later worked on lunar descent systems at Team Indus, Vatsal said the idea for SkyServe came after he noticed how heavily government contracts dominated the space exploration market. 

“It made sense to focus on commercial Earth observation.” One technology that stood out to the team was onboard processing. With deep learning advancing so quickly, Vatsal explained, it was only a matter of time before it broke through in space as well.

SkyServe’s core product is its onboard software platform called Storm, which works directly on the small computers carried by satellites. “We have the ability to receive data in a variety of pre-processed or semi-processed forms, and the in-house knowledge to make it to a more processed product that becomes one of our key value propositions,” he added. 

By compressing and filtering out useless data, such as cloud-covered images, the satellite sends down only the information that truly matters. In effect, satellites stop being passive cameras in orbit and instead “think”, making real-time decisions about what data to retain, what to discard and when to alert users.

Vatsal explained that there would be a radical change in response times. If a disaster were to strike and data wasn’t immediately available, usable information could still be delivered by the end of the day, significantly reducing turnaround times.

SkyServe has already flown Storm on two missions and is preparing for a third. Along the way, the team has learnt to handle different sensor types and to overcome tough constraints around power and memory.

Smaller Packets of Data

Vishesh described his own motivation. “Psychologically, I tend to gravitate towards hard problems, and I enjoy [tackling] those.” His earlier work on vision-based navigation for lunar landings, he added, proved helpful in preparing for building real-time computer vision for satellites.

Reddy clarified that disaster monitoring in Karnataka has, since 2009, already relied heavily on real-time sensor networks, including rainfall gauges and river monitoring systems, down to the gram panchayat level. 

He emphasised the need for satellite data alongside these sensors by saying, “Satellite data can be utilised in all aspects…[It can play a role] before disasters for monitoring and early warning, during disasters for rescue and relief, and after disasters to assess damages and [guide] reconstruction.” 

In practice, SkyServe’s software compresses large image files in orbit. Vatsal explained that, for example, if a satellite were flying over Bengaluru on a cloudy day, most of the image might be cloud-covered. The software could strip away the clouds, segment the images and then check the remaining areas for signs of flooding.

By doing this, the company aims to create smaller areas of interest, which could help segregate the research into focus sectors. Reducing gigabytes of raw imagery to megabytes of processed results means satellites can send down valid data in a single pass instead of several.

Involvement with NASA and More

SkyServe has demonstrated its technology with Italy-based aerospace company D-Orbit and collaborated with scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). From the time of contract signing to actual execution in space, the turnaround took just three weeks, the company said. 

SkyServe collaborated with Steve Chien, senior research scientist at JPL, to identify nine different models and standardise them on SkyServe’s search platform, demonstrating their capabilities. The goal was to explore satellite autonomy and climate-related event monitoring, with the potential for future missions together.

The company has also worked with IN-SPACe, the Indian government’s space regulator. Disaster management, he stressed, is one of the most urgent areas. “It’s almost like some things that can be solved are not being solved, especially for a country like India. I think the disasters, the value of loss that comes is slightly perceived to be low, but it’s something that’s very sad.”

What Comes Next?

SkyServe sees opportunities in agriculture, defence and urban planning, but disaster management remains the focus. Vishesh believes that multiple constellations working together could provide warnings days in advance. 

Looking ahead, SkyServe aims to run its platform on higher resolution satellites. This will open up a lot of use cases for the company that would otherwise not be demonstrable. Reddy mentioned that startups must work with organisations like ISRO, IMD, National Disaster Management Authority and National Remote Sensing Centre to ensure their solutions are adopted. Else, he mentioned, negotiating for data after a disaster is very difficult. “It should be before disasters, in advance.”

The company sees progress as inevitable, with demand for real-time space data on the rise. As disasters intensify, SkyServe bets that satellites which ‘think’ for themselves can provide the speed that response teams need.

The post Satellites That ‘Think’ Could Change How India Responds to Disasters appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

Quantum technologies are moving out of labs and into the core of national strategy and industry. What started as a scientific pursuit has become the “second quantum revolution,” reshaping how the world will compute, communicate, and sense. 

At Cypher 2025, one of India’s largest AI conference organised by AIM in Bengaluru, Arindam Ghosh, professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), reminded the audience that quantum is more than computing.

“Many people think it’s just quantum computing, but it’s not so. It’s beyond just computing.”

Ghosh described three pillars of the field: computing, communications, and sensing. Each has its own timeline, but all point to a digital future very different from today.

The Physics that Breaks Intuition

Two principles power this field, superposition and entanglement. Superposition allows a quantum bit (qubit) to exist in multiple states at once until measured. As Ghosh explained, “The state can exist in all possible states between yes and no.” Entanglement links particles so deeply that the measurement of one instantaneously alters the other, regardless of distance.

These features may sound abstract, but they are the engines of quantum applications. They unlock advances in optimisation, molecular simulation, and cryptography, domains where classical systems falter. 

From Lab to Market

Progress differs across domains. Quantum communications already promise security where any attempt to eavesdrop becomes detectable, drawing interest from defence and finance. Quantum sensing may reach markets first with magnetometers for diagnostics, gravimeters for exploration, and atomic clocks for finance. Ghosh called these “dual-use technologies,” serving civilian and military purposes, one reason governments are rushing to regulate and invest.

Quantum computing, meanwhile, remains harder to scale. Competing hardware platforms, from superconducting circuits to trapped ions—are racing to build error-corrected machines. Tech giants have published roadmaps targeting breakthroughs within a decade. “This technology is moving faster than prior hardware waves,” Ghosh said, stressing that the time to build capacity is now.

Economics and the AI Link

The global market for quantum today is about $1 billion. Forecasts suggest $100 billion in annual product revenues by the mid-2030s, with ripple effects worth trillions across sectors like energy, logistics, finance, and healthcare.

Quantum is often cast as a competitor to artificial intelligence. Ghosh disagreed. “In about five years’ time, it will have to be a quantum-AI combo,” he said. Quantum could speed up machine learning tasks, while AI could help manage noisy quantum systems. The future, he argued, is hybrid. For businesses, the practical step is to develop quantum-ready workflows and train talent to bridge both fields.

India’s Opportunity and Risk

India’s strength lies in its talent. Its challenge lies in turning that knowledge into hardware and platforms. Barriers include the cost of cryogenic systems, gaps in precision manufacturing, and weak industry-academia links.

The National Quantum Mission, launched in 2023 with a budget of ₹6,000 crore, seeks to build domestic capacity in computing, communication, and sensing. If executed well, it could create skilled engineers and indigenous products. 

“We need to be ready with this technology as soon as possible,” Ghosh said. That readiness extends beyond science to industry and diplomacy. Without a role in setting standards and rules, India could remain a buyer rather than a maker of quantum products.

Dual-Use Dilemmas

The same features that make quantum powerful also make it risky. A sensor that helps miners could also help navies. Secure communication channels could protect citizens or shield adversaries. Policymakers will have to weigh ethics, export controls, and alliances with care.

Still, the potential is vast—from climate modelling and drug discovery to secure communications and fintech resilience. Ghosh stressed that the next five years are not for waiting but for building.

Quantum will not solve every problem, and hype will outpace reality in places. But momentum is real, and timelines are shrinking. India has the brains and strategic position. What it needs now is to turn ideas into hardware, products, and influence.

The second quantum revolution is underway. The choice before India, Ghosh concluded, is whether it will follow or lead.

The post Beyond Quantum Computing: India’s Race to Lead appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

India has a workforce talent that spans across states and major technology hubs. While this remains an advantage in the country, it has also come up as a key bottleneck. According to recent reports, of the 1.5 million engineering graduates, only 0.5% pursued further studies in aerospace. 

Lt Gen AK Bhatt (retd), director general of the Indian Space Association (ISpA), told AIM in an exclusive conversation that the broader engineering base could still serve the space sector. “In space, you have to have multiple expertise in electronics, mechanical, design and other things. Even computers. So all these scientists, all these engineers, can be used in space,” he said.

At a recent panel discussion on self-reliance in space, industry leaders and officials pointed to bottlenecks that keep the country reliant on foreign suppliers, while offering ideas on how to close the gap.

The panel agreed that training a large number of space engineers is vital. One key suggestion was that the country has to train more than 10,000 space engineers across industries.

Lt Gen Bhatt expanded on this point. He noted that while the IITs are prestigious, India’s talent pool runs far deeper. If some of the top graduates move abroad, equally capable students from other institutions step up to fill those roles. 

Hence, he cautioned that funding should not be concentrated only in elite institutions. “The issue is that India does not have a culture of spending money on academia. The government has announced higher funds, but…all the money is going to IITs. It’s not going to other institutes,” he said, stressing that partnerships between a wide range of universities and industry are vital. 

“Our talent is not limited. No doubt, they [IITs] are doing well, but it should also be spread out to others.”

Academia can take projects to the design stage, but industry is needed to manufacture and scale them. Expecting fully finished, commercial-ready products straight out of academia is unrealistic; the solution lies in long-term industry–academia collaboration.

The Subsystem Bottleneck

Experts noted that while India has made progress in launch systems and satellites, gaps remain in the smaller but vital parts. “We are very deficient in sensors, cameras and electronics. But launch vehicle capability, like our PSLV, has been doing great,” Lt Gen Bhatt said.

These components are tightly controlled by global companies. They are costly and subject to supply delays, which hurts Indian missions. As MV Reddy, joint managing director of Astra Microwave Products, explained, “In the Indian space ecosystem, critical vulnerabilities remain at the subsystems and components, notably microelectronics, sensors and advanced materials. These are all largely, in fact, tightly controlled by the global companies, which is leading to dependencies and delays.”

The panel drew comparisons with other countries. The US supports high-risk research through the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), its central defence R&D agency.

Europe uses public-private partnerships and clusters. Israel has created specialised centres for semiconductors and optronics (optic electronics). These examples show how consistent government backing and risk-sharing mechanisms can nurture ecosystems that go well beyond single companies. 

“These are all things which will be followed overseas,” Reddy said, adding that India could adapt some of these models.

An Import Challenge

With India’s space ambitions growing fast, and the country looking at an $8 billion economy poised to increase fivefold in the coming years, there lies a persistent issue with imports. Critical technologies such as sensors, cameras and electronics remain largely imported. 

To achieve India’s goal of achieving a 10% share in the global space economy, the focus is shifting from just building rockets to strengthening the entire value chain. As Nikhil Arora, deputy director at IN-SPACe, put it, “Self-reliance often fails at the subsystem or a component level.”

ISRO chairperson V Narayanan has also previously expressed concern over India’s continued dependency on imported goods. Currently, 90% of the components in ISRO’s launch vehicles are indigenised. The remaining 10% are imported, most of which are just electronics, the chairperson noted. 

“At least in the next five years, the import of electronic components in our country should come down drastically,” Narayanan asserted.

Building a Local Ecosystem

Several suggestions came up for how India could reduce import dependence. One was for the government to act as an anchor customer, ensuring that local firms have steady demand to justify investment. 

Another was to encourage industry-academia collaboration. As Reddy put it, “With the IITs, NITs and economic institutes, they can collaborate with startups and form a research house to develop this company, with the support of the government.”

Others spoke about creating supply chain clusters and investing in automation. Shankar Ghosh, founding director at Shell-N-Tube, said, “This leads us into a lot of development and technology which will help both industries innovate in their chosen area. So this actually makes the nature of the global player, reduces the operation load and provides a clear direction to further rapid turnover in launches for the industry”.

There was also a call to think long-term. Import substitution cannot be done component by component. “This safe place will not come overnight, and we cannot achieve it by replacing imported components one by one. These can be achieved only by creating a strong ecosystem nurturing the Indian SME sector,” Reddy said.

The post India’s IITs are Great But…  appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

Robotics has become central to modern manufacturing. From automobiles to electronics, semiconductors, logistics and warehouses, factories worldwide rely on robotic arms and machines.

The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) World Robotics 2024 report shows that the global stock of industrial robots reached 4.28 million in 2023, a 10% rise from the previous year. Asia leads, with China accounting for 51% of global installations at 2,76,288 units. India is catching up fast, installing a record 8,510 robots in 2023.

Key trends for 2025 include the rise of AI and humanoids, a push for sustainability, new models like robot-as-a-service (RaaS) and robotics to offset global labour shortages.

CynLr, a Bengaluru-based robotics startup, is building machines that can adapt to new tasks without pre-programming or specialised hardware. Founder Gokul NA said the goal is to strip away complexity from factories.

He noted that making robots work is still tedious. “They are not intuitive with objects, even less than what a human baby would be. What comes naturally and instinctively to humans does not come so for the robots.”

“So, our job is to make the manufacturing as boring as possible,” he joked in an interview with AIM. Unlike conventional robots that depend on precision alignment and extensive training, CynLr’s machines can pick, orient and place objects they have never seen before. The company plans to deploy its robots in factories by early next year and raise new funding.

Making Robots Self-Learning

CynLr claims this flexibility could make manufacturing cheaper and easier to reconfigure. Gokul compared their robots to infants learning through trial and error. “It has no idea what it has picked,” he said during a walkthrough of the company’s facility.

The system tries to grasp, drops the object and tries again. These “primitives” let the robot build autonomy without huge datasets or rigid programming. CynLr has also developed its own camera modules. They use autofocus and eye-like convergence to sense depth.

“You can never see an object without converging your eyes,” Gokul explained. This design eliminates the complexity and errors of depth cameras, allowing robots to handle bolts, wires and flexible parts without requiring engineers to fix their orientation first.

CynLr’s ‘Dumb Baby’ Robot

At the centre of CynLr’s work is CyRo, a robot built to rethink factory automation. Gokul said if robots can pick an object in its natural orientation and then figure out how to place it, tasks become simpler and faster.

Most factory automation today depends on custom-built machines for specific parts. “You have 70% of the cost into any automation today…entirely about those customisations that you’ve done in the environment,” he said.

CynLr wants factories to be reprogrammable, closer to how computers work. “Then, it becomes like a laptop, and you can write everything. It becomes a software-defined factory,” he said. Reprogramming a robot for a new task could then take minutes, not months.

CyRo uses real-time sensing and correction, behaving, as Gokul put it, “like a dumb baby…just figuring out the best orientation to pick it up.” This lets it adapt to errors, variability and dynamic environments where conventional robots fail.

Vision is Not Sight

Vision is key to CyRo’s adaptability. More than half of the human brain is devoted to visual processing, and CynLr aimed to replicate that in machines. Unlike conventional systems that rely on colour, CyRo perceives motion, orientation and context.

“Our vision is way more than what we see as colour; it sees motion first,” Gokul said. This allows CyRo to act on objects that appear different under varying lighting or orientation.

By combining vision with adaptive learning, CyRo moves closer to what CynLr calls ‘object sentience’—the ability to turn a stimulus into an action without exhaustive programming.

Jobs Will Not Be Displaced

The rise of adaptable robots often sparks concern about job losses. Gokul dismissed the fear. “Displacement of jobs is what we are hyper-focused on because that’s too evident for us. But that didn’t happen in history, in the past.”

According to him, roles will evolve. Workers will move from repetitive tasks to teaching robots and managing adaptive systems. “Who else is best equipped to teach the robot than the guy who actually did that job?” he asked.

Unlike the steep learning curve of the software era, training robots is intuitive, relying on demonstration and correction. “How much of a skill barrier do I have to face to adapt from here to there? I think that is going to be much more minimal compared to what you faced between the computer and software,” he said.

93% Components Still Imported

CynLr faces challenges beyond technology. “We don’t have just the task of building a company. We have a task of building an industry along with it,” Gokul said.

Today, 93% of hardware value is imported. Key parts like image sensors and encoders come from Japan, South Korea, Israel and Europe. “Government’s understanding of Make in India is a lot more sound, but create in India has never been focused,” he said.

He also pointed to the mismatch between venture capital cycles and the realities of deep tech. Software-friendly funding timelines are too short for robotics. Gokul called for “new investment vehicles with long-term horizons” to support foundational technologies.

CynLr sees applications across automotive assembly, semiconductors, electronics, warehouses, industrial kitchens and even space labs. The company employs over 60 people and expects to reach 80 this year.

For Gokul, the mission goes beyond building robots. It is about creating an ecosystem for India to lead in automation. “What computers did for data, we are trying to do for objects,” he said.

The post This Bengaluru Firm is Building Robots That Won’t Wait for Your Instructions appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

As trade tensions between the US and India escalate, with tariffs climbing to unprecedented levels, another story is quietly unfolding. A group of US and Indian venture capitalists (VCs) has announced a $1 billion alliance to fund deep tech startups in India over the next decade.

At first glance, the two developments seem unrelated. But together, they underscore a paradox: while traditional trade ties between the two nations are fraying, capital flows into deep tech may emerge as a new form of diplomacy,  or at the very least, a hedge against uncertainty.

The alliance brings together a network of venture firms with the stated goal of bridging India’s early-stage funding gap in deep tech areas such as semiconductors, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence. India has long produced world-class engineering talent, but has lagged in commercialising breakthrough innovations.

The billion-dollar pledge signals intent to change that. But what remains to be seen is whether this collaboration marks a turning point for India’s deep tech ecosystem,  or whether it will remain symbolic amid geopolitical headwinds.

Venture Capital as Parallel Diplomacy

Jaspreet Bindra, CEO of AI&Beyond, sees a clear diplomatic dimension in this move. “Venture alliances can often act as a form of parallel diplomacy, especially when traditional trade negotiations hit a wall. Capital flows where opportunities lie, and such collaborations quietly build bridges even in strained geopolitical climates,” he noted.

This framing matters. With tariffs as high as 50% now applied to Indian exports, there is an urgent need to keep Indo-US ties warm through other channels. Technology investment, by contrast, is not only insulated from tariff regimes but also strategically aligned with both nations’ long-term ambitions.

Bindra highlighted that the US interest is not merely financial. “The entry of US VCs into India is not just about chasing returns; it is also deeply strategic. India is rapidly emerging as a hub for critical technologies like semiconductors, AI and quantum computing,”he said, adding that by co-investing over a billion dollars, the US and Indian venture ecosystems are sending a clear signal: technology partnerships can transcend trade spats, positioning India as a vital node in the global innovation network.

A Drop in the Ocean?

Not everyone, however, sees this alliance as transformative. A VC source who requested anonymity offered a more sceptical view: “A lot of that capital is already raised and would’ve flown into India anyway. This is $1 billion we’re talking about, spread over multiple years, while US-India trade is in the hundreds of billions of dollars. So it is a drop in the ocean.”

From this perspective, the alliance may be less about unlocking new money and more about branding and signalling. Several US-headquartered firms with Indian roots were already investing in the country. The ‘alliance’ may simply provide a banner under which these efforts can be packaged and promoted, they added. 

The Role of Indian LPs

Another key question is who will fund this capital over the long run. Deep tech investments are notorious for long gestation cycles and high capital intensity. Will Indian limited partners (LPs), including pension funds, family offices, and institutional investors that back venture firms, have the patience to wait?

The source offered cautious optimism: “There is already a lot of acceptance amongst Indian LPs about deep tech as an asset class because the Indian government and policymakers have been vocal about this over the last couple of years. People are figuring out some way to do allocations. It’s still 10-year fund life cycles, not 15–20 years, so the results are more back-ended. But given the momentum, I actually feel you will see participation from all.”

This suggests that while US LPs will still play a central role, domestic investor appetite for deep tech is growing, fueled in part by India’s own ₹1 trillion research, development, and innovation (RDI) scheme.

Geopolitics as a Catalyst

Ironically, the geopolitical turbulence may itself be accelerating India’s deep tech journey. As the source explained, “Geopolitics is actually pushing deep tech forward. Countries want to have their own sovereign tech. For India, this means a lot more investment, which is good for companies building in this space and good for VCs like us.”

Indeed, semiconductors, AI models, and quantum technologies are now seen not just as business opportunities but as strategic assets. In that sense, US capital flowing into India is not just an investment bet but part of a broader reconfiguration of the global tech supply chain.

Beyond the US

The alliance also raises questions about startup market strategies. Historically, Indian deep tech founders targeted the US first for expansion. But with tariffs and trade uncertainty in the air, diversification is increasingly on the table.

“This moment underscores the need to diversify markets beyond the US and build resilience against geopolitical shocks,” said Bindra.

Finally, there is the question of why Indian VCs feel the need to partner with US counterparts at all, rather than building domestic syndicates or expanding ties with Europe or Southeast Asia.

“I think a lot of it is branding; it is just the funds coming together and talking about it. Some of these are US names that have Indian roots, so they were already in the US. It’s not like there is a new investor in India as a result of this announcement,” the source added. 

This raises an uncomfortable but important point. While the alliance may be symbolically significant, its practical impact could hinge less on the amount of capital and more on whether it attracts genuinely new players to the Indian market.

The post When Capital Becomes Diplomacy: Inside the $1B India-US Deep Tech Alliance appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

India’s talent has long been recognised and admired, not only within the country but also on the global stage. Over the past year, industry professionals have engaged in multiple debates and discussions regarding the shortage of skilled workers and the urgent need for talent development.

Discussions around the need for strengthening India’s talent pool have often touched upon the importance of more specialised training, along with tailored curricula in schools and colleges. This theme resurfaced recently at the SEMICON India 2025 event in Delhi, where a panel addressed the challenges and solutions associated with this. 

The discussion, led and moderated by professor Manoj Choudhary, vice chancellor of the Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, brought together key leaders from across the ecosystem. 

While this has been the larger debate surrounding skilled talent, in a recent exclusive interview with AIM, Sameer Wasson, CEO of MIPS, pushed back against the notion that India lacks skilled talent. “Nowhere else on the planet can you grow as rapidly as you can in India. This is not a cost statement. This is just about the talent available,” he said.

Opening the panel, Rajat Moona, director at IIT Gandhinagar, stressed that while there has been a larger debate on India’s aim to skill talent rapidly, even described as an 85,000-person requirement under India’s Chip to Startup Programme, the demand remains far greater. “We need a lot more,” he asserted. 

Teach Chips in School

Moona pushed for early hardware literacy. “If we actually do this right in the middle school and high school, we should be able to teach them how to make a microprocessor.” He urged schools to treat practical hardware training like coding.

He added that India should normalise hands-on chip design in classrooms, thereby encouraging students should try building a microcontroller or microprocessor in school.

Moona further argued that the original domestic target understates the scale of global demand. “Around 1.5 million people worldwide are needed in the semiconductor sector; that is not a very small number.” 

Contributing to the discussion, SD Sudarsan, executive director at Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), noted, “Today, the top nine or 10 tools are all available under one roof, and providers have been extremely cooperative,” he claimed. Training initiatives have also accelerated, with more than 200 instructional enhancement programmes conducted and over 60,000 students trained so far. 

“We expect to achieve the target within the year. So 85,000 will be done and dusted.” He added that instead, India might need at least 3,00,000 chipmakers, which is significantly more than the projected number. 

Skills From Tier 2 Cities to Advanced Labs

Meanwhile, MM Tripathi, DG of the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), the skilling arm of MeitY, described how the institute trains around one million people annually in IT and electronics. “A major portion of this skilling is also related to electronics, primarily on semiconductor design part and other electronics design, embedded systems, VLSI design and other electronics technology,” he said.

NIELIT currently runs 56 centres across the country, with many located in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Its new university programmes in BTech, MTech and PhD are designed to align with industry requirements closely. “From the very early stage, we started working with the industry. We invited the industry to participate in the development of our curriculum. And many industries have responded very nicely,” Tripathi added, citing collaborations with Tata Electronics and Infineon.

He also announced the upcoming launch of a digital platform in September to provide virtual labs and open-source chip design training. “It will democratise the whole semiconductor design process,” he said.

Cryogenic Chip Design?

Sudarsan highlighted the rapid progress in tool access and training. He credited vendors and ministries for rallying support.

CDAC has also intensified faculty training efforts. “Today, we have conducted more than 200 instructional enhancement programmes.” Many of these run daily across campuses. Progress in fabrication-linked design has been strong as well, with a sharp rise in student tape-outs

This year alone, with the support of industry partners, CDAC says it has already guaranteed 50 chips. Adding to the 20 chips revealed on the first day of the event by Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and PM Narendra Modi, the centre expects another 75 by year-end. Sudarsan claims this would be achieved in a single academic year by students.

Sudarsan said the five-year pipeline goal is well within reach. He also noted that India has over 600 institutions offering VLSI courses.

He also flagged the expanding scope of design work. “We are moving beyond traditional silicon.” Teams now have access to “cryogenic chip design”.

On global programmes, Shari Liss, vice president for global workforce development and initiatives at SEMI, pointed to new funding. “In the US, we were just funded by the SEMI Foundation to build a national network for microelectronics education. It’s a $200 million grant.”

Call for a Semiconductor University

As the academic discussion drew to a close, the panel explored the idea of India establishing a sector-specific university. Tripathi revealed that NIELIT is already moving in this direction by setting up specialised campuses, including a centre of excellence in advanced packaging in Guwahati and fabrication-focused facilities in Gujarat.

Moona stressed that India must think of itself not just as a service provider but as a product nation. “It is also equally important to say that others’ dependence on us will increase,” he said, pointing to opportunities in local design and manufacturing that can integrate into the global supply chain.

Chips Need Collaboration

Adding to the conversation, Rene Cortez, head of quality at CG Power, stressed the importance of aligning education with real-world manufacturing demands, noting that building a semiconductor ecosystem should follow a structured path beginning with R&D and design centres. Drawing comparisons with how Japan developed its semiconductor base decades ago, he argued that India must strengthen its supply chains.

Cortez also called for reforms in engineering education, including three years of foundational training, followed by an immersive fourth year at premier institutions like IIT Bombay, and a fifth year dedicated to practical qualifications before entering the workforce.

Bringing in a global perspective, Liss highlighted the critical role of international collaboration between academia, government, and industry. Workforce development, she warned, is “not an easy component to lift” in this world. While India’s strong base of design engineers was acknowledged, she argued that greater emphasis should be placed on manufacturing and product development.

Liss also noted that technical skills alone will not suffice. Creativity, communication, teamwork and cooperation, she said, are equally essential if industry needs are to be fully met.

The post ‘India Needs More Hands-On Hardware Training, Starting in Middle School’ appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

The Indian government’s focus on developing a robust semiconductor industry has been an ongoing journey. Multiple initiatives like the DLI scheme, PLI scheme, and RDI scheme have been initiated to assist startups and companies working with semiconductors, with an objective to accelerate development.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has on multiple occasions outlined the country’s growing role in the global semiconductor industry, highlighting investments, infrastructure, and future plans. During his address at the SEMICON India 2025 summit in Delhi on Tuesday, he delved into various sectors of the chip ecosystem. 

He emphasised that the sector’s growth reflects global trust in India. “The world is ready to build a future with India.” He added that semiconductors, like oil in the last century, will decide the world’s future.

Modi highlighted that India contributes nearly 20% of global semiconductor design talent and encouraged young innovators and start-ups to make use of initiatives such as the Chips-to-Startup programme. “The government stands shoulder to shoulder with you,” he said.

To build a strong talent pipeline, the government has also placed emphasis on workforce development. Through the Chips to Startup programme, more than 60,000 students have been trained in semiconductor design. Additionally, over 280 institutes and 72 labs have been equipped with EDA tools, creating the world’s largest centralized EDA tool facility for students and researchers.

Domestic Progress and Infrastructure

The Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme is playing a central role in strengthening India’s semiconductor ecosystem. The programme provides domestic companies with up to 50% cost support for chip design and 6–4% of net sales turnover assistance, in addition to access to EDA tools, intellectual property (IP), and validation support.

So far, the government has approved ten major projects, including Silicon PAMs and Silicon Carbide PAMs, alongside eight advanced packaging facilities with a combined capacity to produce 24 billion chips annually. In parallel, 23 semiconductor start-ups have been sanctioned under the DLI scheme specifically for design-focused initiatives.

Union IT and railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that construction is underway at five semiconductor units, with one pilot line already producing chips. “Two more units will start production in a few months. The design of five more units is progressing very well,” he added.

Vaishnaw unveiled the country’s first homegrown 32-bit processor chip before the Prime Minister, a milestone in India’s semiconductor drive.

He also emphasised on the participation of the states and the need for a healthy competition among them. He added that it is essential for states like UP, Gujarat, Odisha and more to enter the supply chain in their own way and help accelerate the ecosystem.

The states could help fill gaps in each other’s manufacturing and create a more robust ecosystem. This sentiment was also echoed by Ajit Manocha, president of SEMI, who spoke to AIM on the sidelines of the event.

He emphasised that it is risky for a country the size of India to concentrate everything in a single state. Instead, he pointed out, diversification across multiple regions is essential to build resilience. Manocha drew a parallel with the United States, where for decades the chip industry was heavily centred around Silicon Valley. “If something went wrong there, the entire ecosystem could be disrupted,” he cautioned.

According to him, the US has now corrected that imbalance, with semiconductor activity spreading to several states. “India should also take the same approach,” he said, adding that such a model would strengthen the overall ecosystem, while also distributing the available skilled talent more evenly.

Currently, India’s semiconductor talent base is clustered in a few hubs, but Manocha noted that new opportunities are emerging elsewhere. He highlighted states such as Odisha and Uttar Pradesh, which are not usually associated with semiconductors, as examples of how India could “think out of the box” and expand capacity beyond traditional regions.

Towards a Full-Stack Semiconductor Nation

The PM mentioned that 10 semiconductor projects have been approved, noting the implementation of the National Single Window System aimed at reducing paperwork for investors. 

He stressed upon the development of “plug-and-play infrastructure” including land, power supply, ports, and skilled worker facilities.

Modi said India is moving towards becoming a “full-stack semiconductor nation” and added that the day is not far when “India’s smallest chip will drive the biggest change in the world.” 

He reiterated the launch of CG Power’s pilot plant on August 28 and Kaynes’ upcoming pilot project, with commercial chip launches expected this year.

Vaishnaw spoke about India’s talent pool and training push, noting that 278 universities now have access to advanced EDA tools. “By now, 16,000 engineering students have already worked on these tools for more than 13 million hours,” he said. Chips designed by students were presented to Modi during the event.

The PM also underlined that design centres in Noida and Bangalore are already working on advanced chips capable of storing billions of transistors.

Global Industry Response

Manocha added to Modi’s vision and referred to India’s trajectory as “exponential”. He noted that the semiconductor industry could double to $1.3 trillion in the next 6–7 years, and surpass $2 trillion in 15 years. 

“Ecosystem is [a] prerequisite for growth. If you don’t have [an] ecosystem, companies will not bring mega projects,” he said, stressing that supply chain resilience must stay central to the effort.

Adding to this, Christophe Fouquet, CEO at ASML said India’s entry into chip manufacturing carries wider significance. 

“It represents not only an opportunity for economic growth and job creation, but also an opportunity for national resilience,” he said. 

Additionally, others who talked of investing in India included the $400 million announced by Mark Papermaster, chief technology officer of AMD and the India deep tech alliance fund, spoken about by Sriram Viswanathan, founding partner at Celesta Capital.

The post India’s Smallest Chip Will Drive the Biggest Change in the World, Says PM Modi appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

India’s semiconductor ecosystem witnessed rapid growth over the past decade, aided by ample funding and government support for innovation. Taking its initiative a step further, the Union cabinet, in July, approved the Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) scheme, which aims to scale up private sector participation in research and innovation across strategic and emerging domains.

The scheme, backed by a ₹1 lakh crore corpus, is poised to offer long-term financing or refinancing at low or nil interest rates. It is in these circumstances that MIPS, a leading supplier of AI and processor IP headquartered in the US, is staking its future in physical AI. 

Physical AI, also known as ‘generative physical AI,’ enables autonomous systems to perceive, understand, and perform complex actions in the real world.

In a recent conversation during his visit to India, MIPS chief executive Sameer Wasson told AIM: “Today, AI is used for photo sharing, food delivery, and hack placement. When we start talking about AI in terms of security, safety, autonomy and health, that’s the wave I’m interested in.”

‘The New Oil’

Wasson believes semiconductors have entered a defining moment and agrees with the analogy that terms them “the new oil,” essential for autonomy, robotics, and national security. MIPS, once a startup in RISC-V computing, is now moving faster after its recent acquisition by GlobalFoundries (GF).

The deal gives MIPS more credibility with customers who were hesitant to commit to a smaller player. “The boat is now big. You definitely have seemingly unlimited fuel and better ability to execute,” Wasson said.

Wasson said he does not see catalogue AI solutions as the future, and would rather compare those to one solution that fits everything. In contrast, the company’s approach is to focus on customisation. “Our DNA tends to be application-specific. We’re going to extend that to customisation for certain applications and then take it to the next level,” he said. 

Wasson’s view aligns with that of industry leaders. At Computex 2024, NVIDIA chief Jensen Huang said, “The next wave of AI is here. Robotics, powered by physical AI, will revolutionise industries.” He went further at GTC 2025: Robotics powered by physical AI could become the “largest industry of all.”

SiMa AI founder Krishna Rangasayee echoed the same message during his last visit to India, stating that physical AI will be the driver for India. His firm raised $85 million to expand across robotics, automotive, aerospace, healthcare and more.

Wasson insisted that MIPS is aligned with this shift. “The potential of what lies ahead of us in bringing AI to physical space is just extreme.” He sees robotics, drones and real-time control as near-term opportunities. “Everyone’s focusing on the AI in robots. We’re focusing on stabilising the robot,” he said.

Analog Devices India (ADI) sees itself firmly in the physical AI space: providing sensors, power management, and motor control that bridge digital AI and the physical world.

“ADI is actually in the physical world. Our chips are the interface between the digital world and the real world,” Vivek Tyagi, MD at ADI, told AIM. He pointed to others like GreyOrange and Addverb in warehouse automation as proof that India is already moving toward physical AI.

Plans for India

India features heavily in MIPS’ plans, both as a talent base and as a future market. “Nowhere else on the planet can you grow as rapidly as you can in India. This is not a cost statement. This is just about the talent available,” Wasson said.

Contrary to critics, he does not believe there is a shortage of skilled workers. “There is plenty of talent. The world’s best talent is abundantly available,” he argued, while stressing on the importance of fundamentals, as talent evolves on that foundation.

Silicon Labs senior vice-president Manish Kothari agreed with Wasson’s observation as he said that India should focus on building gradually. “As India’s end market explodes in scale, smart metering alone is adding nearly 100,000 new connections daily. The pull for local manufacturing will only grow,” he said in an exclusive interaction.

Kothari sees assembly and testing (OSAT) as the natural first step before large fabs. His firm has partnered with IIT Delhi, IIIT Hyderabad, and others to help bridge the gap between fundamentals and applied learning.

Starting Small

Wasson also takes a measured view of manufacturing. “Starting big with unsteady investment isn’t going to get us there. You have to start small and stay steady.”

Rajiv Mody, founder, CEO and CMD of Sasken Technologies, believes that the essence of building resilient technology companies lies in the depth of engineering and the willingness to take risks. He emphasised to AIM that while “semiconductors are the new oil,” fabs alone will not secure India’s future. 

Real competitiveness will come from strengthening design, IP creation, and analogue expertise, with tech transfer serving only as a temporary bridge rather than the final destination.

MIPS differentiates itself by targeting application-specific computing, rather than the general-purpose processors where Arm dominates. Networking, autonomy, and AI-driven infrastructure are its strongholds.

“If it’s a data-oriented problem and it’s application specific, we tend to perform,” Wasson said. The company aims to scale faster under GF’s ownership. “Our ambition is to be the number one viable alternative to Arm,” Wasson said. For him, semiconductors are not just about markets, but also about impact. “Our job is not done until we deliver something.”

The post Physical AI is the New Bet as Semiconductors Become the New Oil appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

India needs to establish a self-reliant quantum ecosystem within the next decade if it wants to avoid the risk of falling behind, and being a mere consumer of foreign technology, according to Arindam Ghosh, professor of physical sciences at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. 

In an exclusive chat with AIM, Ghosh warned against the traditional Indian approach of importing and assembling components, while emphasising the need to execute a strategic homegrown approach towards developing quantum systems. He sees this as not just a matter of technological progress but that of national security and economic sovereignty as well.

“What worries me,” explains Ghosh, is that Indian quantum systems could be “assembled from imported components,” while yearning for a “truly self-reliant quantum future”.    

An industry analyst from Bengaluru who works on semiconductor solutions, but did not wish to be named, echoed this concern. According to him, even when some visible components, like the outer shell, are made domestically, critical subsystems are almost always imported, often from countries like the Netherlands or Finland. This dependency, he said, makes it unlikely for India to become a global player without a coordinated policy push. 

Ghosh said the policy push must involve a “holistic” approach to develop supporting components, such as semiconductors, fans and hard drives, as well along with the core hardware. A multifaceted approach will ensure India has the infrastructure and expertise to maintain and evolve quantum systems independently. 

N S Boseraju, Karnataka’s minister for science and technology, told AIM in an exclusive interview that the state government has provided a grant of ₹48 crores to IISc to support the development of quantum technology. 

The state already has 80 to 90 entrepreneurs working on quantum computing, he said, adding that the government is preparing a platform to support these companies with infrastructure like land, water, and power. Boseraju added that the government intends to provide “prime land” in Bengaluru for a quantum chip foundry, which would be part of a larger plan to establish the “quantum city of Bengaluru”.

Security Stakes Are High

Quantum computing has the power to break existing encryption, which could leave critical infrastructure vulnerable, amplifying the urgency to develop sovereign quantum capability given its national security implications. 

“Tomorrow, if someone has a 10,000-qubit computer, they will first hack our national security,” said Ghosh.

Ajai Chowdhry, chairman of the National Quantum Mission (NQM), told AIM, that adversaries can “harvest today and use later,” implying collecting data now to decrypt it once powerful quantum computers are available. 

He said that acting on this front, the government has created a task force to formulate a policy for making India “quantum secure” within the next three months. This task force will advise critical institutions, such as the Reserve Bank of India, power grids, and telecom operators on how to protect themselves.

Sanjeev Gupta, CEO of Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), told AIM that quantum technology is converging with many other domains. Looking at cybersecurity, communications, space, defence, and healthcare, he posed the question if the country’s digital economy is ready for ‘Q-day’? According to him, a Q-day or a quantum day would be when “a quantum hacker attacks you.” 

Market Gaps or Manufacturing? 

Talking about the commercial aspects of quantum computers, the analyst said that without a domestic market beyond the government, investors would see little incentive in the sector. 

A lack of broad commercial demand, he argued, could leave India overly reliant on public-sector procurement and vulnerable to being outpaced by countries where corporate giants, from Microsoft to Google, are driving large-scale quantum projects with multi-billion-dollar budgets.

Professor Ghosh re-emphasised domestic development of related products and components to match global standards so as to facilitate an exchange of quantum tech between India and other industry leaders.  

Incentivising for a Homegrown Ecosystem

India’s quantum journey is underway, with a 6-qubit system at TIFR, a 7-qubit system at IISc, and a 25-qubit machine at QpiAI. But Chowdhry admitted this is “not good enough,” and the goal is a 1000-qubit computer. Ghosh said India could also compete in quantum sensing and materials if it invests strategically.

The analyst cautioned that the path to parity with global leaders is lengthy and resource-intensive. The United States’ quantum story spans over 15 years, beginning with early companies like D-Wave, and backed by billions in funding from tech giants.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re building in the US or India, the hardware, the chip, the programming, everything costs the same,” he said. Current funding levels in India, he added, are “peanuts” compared to what’s needed.

Avoiding the Tech Gap

Beyond money, talent is a bottleneck. “We possibly need 100x more PhDs,” the analyst said, adding, it is difficult to get good talent in India. “Most of our best brains go to the US.” 

He argued for bold government intervention akin to China and Korea’s industrial policies. There needs to be some amount of liquidity to incentivise people to do something they otherwise wouldn’t, he said. 

Eric Holland, general manager of Keysight Technologies’ quantum engineering solutions, told AIM that while building an entirely homegrown quantum computer is “possible, yes… sustainable, unclear.” 

He noted: “I don’t think that it’s possible for one country to own the full supply chain, it’s so diverse and so across the spectrum.” Instead, he advocates leveraging global strengths and partnerships, pointing out that “it’s to your benefit to leverage other areas that are driving profitability rather than saying, hey, we have to start from scratch.”

The post India Has Just 5-10 Years to Catch Up in Global Quantum Race, Says IISc Professor appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

David Gross, the 2004 Physics Nobel laureate, sees enormous potential in Indian science but also expressed his disappointment with the scientific progress of the nation.  

Karnataka recently hosted its first Quantum India Bengaluru (QIB) 2025 event in Bengaluru on July 31 and August 1. The first day saw a healthy participation from startups, government officials, tech companies and educators from institutions like IISc, RRI, among others. 

The event also saw foreign participation, with the highlight being the presence of Duncan Haldane (Princeton University), the 2016 Physics Nobel laureate and David Gross (UCSB), the 2004 Physics Nobel Laureate.

Gross, who won the Nobel Prize along with Frank Wilczek and David Politzer for the discovery of asymptotic freedom, spoke to AIM exclusively on the sidelines of QIB. 

Drop in R&D Investment

Gross helped establish the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS) in Bengaluru a decade ago, and believes India is falling behind its global competitors despite having “enormous potential”. He cited a substantial decrease in government spending on research and development (R&D) as a primary reason.

He expressed that he is “very depressed” that the Indian economy has improved dramatically in the last 10 years. Still, the amount of money and resources that the Indian government gives to research and development has decreased substantially over the past 10 years.

India’s R&D investment was 0.8% of its GDP, he cited. “This has since dropped to 0.64%.” He argued that this approach is not suitable for a country aspiring to be a world leader, as India’s GDP growth has been accompanied by a decline in its relative investment in future development.

In contrast, on July 1, India approved the Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) scheme, which aims to scale up private sector participation in research and innovation across strategic and emerging domains. The scheme, backed by a ₹1 lakh crore corpus, is poised to offer long-term financing or refinancing at low or nil interest rates.

Gross noted that while he is “impressed by the young Indian talent,” he is “not that impressed with the Indian government”. He stated that “some of the best colleagues in the United States are Indian students, postdocs, and faculty.” 

However, he feels India is “falling farther behind” in a relative sense compared to other rapidly developing scientific economies like Korea and China. 

Duncan Haldane agreed as he added to the conversation: “It can’t just be the government. It has to be the industry as well.” But, the two instantly pointed out that they’re not asking to put pressure on the industry since “software companies are now facing a lot of things. They’re investing in everything.”

India vs China vs USA

Gross shared an incident from his first visit to India. Looking at the development, he believed that no other country stood a chance in scientific or even quantum development. According to him, India could have come out as a winner in the tech race.  

“It [India] had many advantages that China didn’t have. I must say I’m disappointed,” he said.

He believes that investing in science is an investment in the future that pays many times over. He pointed out that the budget for the ICTS is a “teeny, teeny part” of the cost of a single fighter plane. Gross acknowledged that experimental science, such as developing new materials, can be expensive, with a modern experimental lab requiring startup costs “in the order of a million dollars”. 

He contrasted this with China, which, according to him, provides substantial start-up support. While Gross noted that the political climate in the US might make it “desirable for some of the Indian diaspora to come back to India,” he stressed that this is not enough. India must create the right environment and opportunities to retain this talent. He expresses that without these investments, the country risks losing its “best minds” to other places where they can “do the best science”.

Brain Drain Must be Reversed

Gross, a theorist himself, believes that to be a world leader, a country must develop its own ideas. He stated that “we’re still relying largely on the science and the applied science that’s developed elsewhere,” which is not a viable approach, and that without basic science, a country would “never develop new applied applications, new technologies”. 

“The lesson of history is that if you don’t have the basic understanding, if you don’t have the basic science, you lose the best people, because they’ll go elsewhere to do that. If you want to compete with the rest of the world, you’d better not just use their ideas, but develop your own ideas.”

Gross praised institutions like ICTS as a great example of how India can attract top talent back to the country. He mentioned that ICTS and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai have become “world leaders in some areas of basic science”. 

“So, with almost no investment and good leadership, it is possible to attract back some of the top scientists who were working in very basic science back to India,” he concluded.

The post Why This Nobel Laureate is ‘Very Depressed’ Over India’s R&D appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

Late last year, the United States tightened export controls on AI chips to China, prompting NVIDIA to halt shipments of its high-performance H100 and A100 processors. 

In response, the company designed the H20 for export to China, a cut-down version of the H100, optimised for AI inference and cloud computing. This version was intended to meet US regulations, but faced licensing delays. 

By early 2025, Chinese firms reported severe shortages, and NVIDIA warned of a potential $5.5 billion hit to its bottom line.

But now, the tides have shifted.

NVIDIA is set to resume shipments of the H20 chips to China, following assurances from the US government that license approvals are underway. CEO Jensen Huang, fresh from diplomatic visits to Washington and Beijing, confirmed that deliveries will begin soon. 

The announcement marks a pivotal moment in the global chip wars, with NVIDIA positioning itself not just as a technology supplier but as a bridge between two rival superpowers.

Balancing Act in the Chip Wars

The resumption of H20 sales marks a critical moment in the ongoing AI technology tug-of-war. While the US has relaxed its grip slightly, it still maintains export control over advanced GPUs. NVIDIA’s announcement comes after months of trade tensions, smuggling reports, and product redesigns.

The company also announced the RTX PRO GPU, a China-specific chip engineered to comply with US regulations. The RTX PRO joins the H20 and other variants, designed to maintain NVIDIA’s presence in China while adhering to legal boundaries.

In a blog post published this week, NVIDIA wrote, “We’re building the world’s most advanced AI platforms and bringing them to every country. Our job is to enable developers everywhere.” 

Huang’s recent trips included meetings with US lawmakers and Chinese officials, signalling NVIDIA’s effort to walk a diplomatic tightrope. Not just them, but AMD has also reportedly entered this game by announcing that it will soon resume shipping its MI308 AI chips to China. 

AMD stated that the US Commerce Department intends to restart reviewing its license applications for sending these products to the world’s second-largest economy. While NVIDIA said it has been “assured” by the government that licenses to sell its AI chips will be granted. 

Malaysia Closes the Loophole

While the US shifts towards granting limited chip export licences, Malaysia is moving in the opposite direction. The country’s investment, trade, and industry ministry (MITI) announced on July 14 that it will now require a 30-day advance notice and government-issued permits for the re-export of AI chips made with US technology.

“This initiative serves to close regulatory gaps while Malaysia undertakes further review on the inclusion of high-performance AI chips of US origin into the SIL of the STA 2010,” the ministry said in the release.

This decision follows investigations suggesting that Chinese companies have been acquiring NVIDIA chips through indirect routes. These include transhipment hubs such as Malaysia and Vietnam, as well as smuggling methods involving modified goods, seafood shipments, and prosthetics.

MITI said the new rules “align with Malaysia’s commitment to fair trade, and ensure that Malaysian ports are not exploited for unauthorised transactions.”

A $50 Billion High-Wire Act

NVIDIA is under pressure from multiple sides. On one hand, China remains a significant revenue generator, representing a sizeable share of the company’s AI chip market. On the other hand, US restrictions have dented its ability to sell high-performance models in the region.

According to previous reports, NVIDIA could have faced a $5.5 billion charge related to the halted sales of H20 chips to China. In addition to launching compliant alternatives like the H20 and RTX PRO, NVIDIA has also considered offering lower-cost versions of its flagship chips, specifically for the Chinese market. 

These efforts aim to maintain market access while adhering to legal constraints. Just like NVIDIA, AMD had also previously indicated that it would incur $800 million in charges due to these controls on its MI308 AI chip.

Meanwhile, major Chinese firms such as DeepSeek have already experienced delays in product launches due to the H20 chip shortage earlier this year. The resumption of supply could accelerate AI development cycles in the region.

This could impact the country’s standing in the global open-source AI race, promoting the development of additional models, such as DeepSeek. In fact, a new contender is already emerging–Kimi K2 from Moonshot AI.

Kimi K2 is now drawing serious attention from AI insiders and outperforming some of the biggest names in the game. Its speed and expectations on benchmarks are sparking comparisons to DeepSeek’s breakout moment. It’s among the top 10 models this week, according to OpenRouter, an AI gateway for developers.  It’s ahead of Grok 4 and GPT-4.1 models. 

AI’s New Global Supply Routes

The broader impact of these developments goes beyond NVIDIA’s balance sheet. This moment reflects a shift in how countries, corporations, and regulators view the global flow of AI technology.

Export rules are evolving. Smuggling networks are being exposed. And firms like NVIDIA are becoming not just tech suppliers, but key players in international policy.

Anthropic, an AI research company, has recently warned of creative efforts to circumvent restrictions on GPU sales to China. These include disassembling and hiding processors inside unrelated products, a tactic known as “component laundering.”

The US Department of Commerce has increased enforcement actions, while companies operating in Southeast Asia now face greater compliance obligations.

In this landscape, NVIDIA is trying to maintain a role that keeps it in favour on both sides of the Pacific. With AI adoption growing rapidly, it remains unclear how long such a balancing act will be possible.

The post NVIDIA Reunites US and China With H20 Chips appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

Satellite connectivity plays a crucial role in India’s connectivity roadmap. The technology provides connectivity to areas lacking traditional infrastructure. It supports government efforts to bridge digital gaps and drive digital transformation across industries.

As Starlink achieves clearance to launch satellite internet in India, US-based satellite firm Viasat has quietly accelerated its expansion in the country. It positions itself to capitalise on India’s economic growth and space ambitions, with its substantial investments providing competitive advantages. 

Multiple players compete for market share in the Indian satellite internet market while regulatory frameworks evolve. Viasat’s established presence and strategic partnerships position it for continued growth in this expanding market. 

The company has been operating in India for nearly two decades, and now, in an exclusive interview with AIM, Gautam Sharma, managing director at Viasat India, revealed that the company has extended its partnership with BSNL. The company is aiming for a deeper presence across the defence, aviation, and rural connectivity segments.

“We have a longstanding partnership with BSNL through which we provide mission-critical satellite services to the government of India, including defence forces and disaster response agencies,” Sharma said.

More Than WiFi in the Sky

Viasat is not just betting on conventional broadband. The company is focusing on direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity, a technology that bypasses towers altogether and sends signals straight to mobile phones or IoT sensors.

“Viasat, in partnership with BSNL, demonstrated India’s first D2D services live at India Mobile Congress 2024,” Sharma said. This could open up a new frontier for use cases such as emergency alerts, last-mile logistics, and connectivity for rural businesses, which are currently underserved by mobile networks.

The company’s services also support in-flight and maritime connectivity across Indian airspace and waters. It continues to work closely with BSNL and other telecos to scale D2D and similar satellite-enabled services, benefiting users across India. 

He also mentioned that they have set up an engineering centre in Chennai and Hyderabad with over 300 employees. It has also invested hundreds of millions in satellite infrastructure for defence, civil, and commercial users in India.

“India has emerged as the fastest growing major economy in the world with 6-8% growth annually and is expected to be one of the top three economic powers in the world over the next 10-15 years,” he said.

Focusing on Bharat, not just India

Even as competitors like Starlink and Jio Satellite position themselves for urban and premium customers, Viasat is turning its attention to rural areas. Sharma noted that rural teledensity is only 58.5% compared to 132% in urban areas.

This gap creates demand for alternative connectivity solutions. Viasat aims to use its satellites to deliver fast and affordable internet access in underserved regions. Sharma believes this approach can provide essential internet services where traditional telecom infrastructure falls short.

“It brings us great pride to contribute to closing the digital gap in rural India,” Sharma said. “Our goal is to use cost-efficient technology to make a significant difference by extending essential internet services to rural regions.”

In September last year, Viasat signed a memorandum of understanding with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL). The partnership explored the design and deployment of low-cost, high-capacity satellites. These satellites were to deliver fast and affordable internet access to underserved communities.

The company leverages high-throughput satellites, such as India’s GSAT-20. These satellites provide connectivity to areas where traditional telecom infrastructure is lacking or non-existent.

Caution for Spectrum Concerns

The debate over satellite spectrum allocation intensifies as more players enter the market. While Starlink’s arrival has stirred excitement, Sharma flagged concerns over the unchecked growth of satellite mega-constellations. 

“The rapid consumption of satellite spectrum and orbits by mega-constellations is a global concern, and India is no exception,” he said. “We believe that this is a real threat to the competitive environment in space.”

Sharma urged regulators to impose stringent review mechanisms to prevent monopolisation. “This should be of particular concern for India, as I would argue, it threatens the country’s space ambitions.”

Viasat supports administrative allocation of satellite spectrum, as opposed to auctioning it like telecom airwaves, to ensure that smaller or newer players aren’t priced out.

The company advocates for rigorous conditions when reviewing satellite service applications. It believes national regulators should maintain competitive and open space environments.

Defence of Partnerships

While many private players are independently building their satellite infrastructure, Viasat is leaning into partnerships with the Indian government, public sector entities, and defence agencies.

“We have a history of providing support to the Indian government in delivering crucial services,” Sharma said. “Our satellite connectivity has enabled Indian commercial ships to stay connected globally and ensure the safety of their crew members, regardless of their location.”

The company collaborates with ISRO to increase capacity for the Indian population and businesses. This collaboration strengthens Viasat’s position in the Indian market. India’s role in the space industry continues to grow. The country holds significant influence on the global platform. Viasat sees India as an ideal partner for its expansion plans and vice versa.

“The country’s growing entrepreneurship and technological and manufacturing expertise can merge with Viasat’s innovative spirit and experience in the space industry to bring unprecedented advantages,” Sharma said.

The partnership with BSNL facilitates reliable connectivity services for Indian enterprises. Viasat’s satellite connectivity enables Indian commercial ships to stay connected globally.

India’s Satellite Moment May Be Here

The Indian government’s National Broadband Mission and affordable internet plans at the state level have focused primarily on fibre and 4G/5G coverage. However, Sharma argues that satellite broadband has a clear role in plugging the last gaps.

“Satellite technology can provide connectivity to areas in India that lack it,” Sharma said. “It can also support the Indian government’s efforts to bridge the digital gap and drive digital transformation across all industries.”

When asked about the reliability issues in LEO (low-Earth orbit) networks, Sharma chose to steer clear of naming competitors. “Although satellite systems encounter challenges, we refrain from speculating about any obstacles that our competitors may encounter.”

Commenting on Starlink’s pricing and the regulatory hurdles it faced in India, he said, “It is vital to safeguard the competitiveness of the space sector from the domination of certain commercial entities, which may hinder the progress of others.”

With BSNL as its leading partner, and collaborations with NSIL and ISRO underway, Viasat appears to be placing long-term bets on India’s space economy, even as the sector heats up with new players.

“Using this partnership-focused approach, Viasat can help bridge the country’s digital gap while directly contributing to advancing growth and encouraging investment in the Indian space economy,” Sharma summed it up.

The post Viasat Tightens Orbit Around Indian Market, Starlink Looms Above appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

India’s ambitions to become a semiconductor superpower have been facing as much turbulence as traction. From collaborations to other struggles, the country’s chipmaking story is still finding its footing, and not without external friction.

A recent incident involves Kaynes Semicon, a subsidiary of Kaynes Technology India, and Taiwan-based Aptos Technology, a subsidiary of photomask giant Taiwan Mask Corporation (TMC). 

The two had signed a definitive agreement in 2024 to build packaging and testing capabilities in India and propagate a knowledge transfer. The deal, however, unravelled before it could even take off. 

Contrary to earlier reports by the media outlet Digitimes on Kaynes failing to uphold its commitments, the collapse of the partnership was triggered by Aptos’s internal crisis. Raghu Panicker, CEO of Kaynes Semicon, told AIM that Aptos was “already in financial distress” and embroiled in a legal battle over signing conflicting deals.

“While we had a definitive agreement, they had also signed an MoU with another company. It became a legal issue. We told them very clearly, once you’re cleared by the Indian courts, we’re ready to engage. But by then, they had lost customers, revenue, and couldn’t fund capex,” Panicker said.

Despite announcing the partnership on stock exchanges in both India and Taiwan, the deal never moved past the paperwork. “It was a breach of trust,” Panicker said. “They were in an exclusivity window with another company while signing with us.”

Hurdles with Big Players

India has attempted to position itself as the next major chip destination, offering financial incentives, infrastructure support, and a robust political narrative emphasising tech independence. However, top-tier semiconductor players have reportedly stayed cautious.

In 2022, Foxconn and Vedanta announced a high-profile joint venture to build semiconductor fabrication facilities (fabs) in India. That collapsed within a year due to subsidy delays and disagreements over plant strategy. 

More recently, Foxconn reentered the space through a packaging and testing project with India’s HCL Group under its build-operate-local (BOL) model, a structure that minimises deeper capital risk.

Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC), another Taiwanese player, signed a contract with Tata Electronics to help design and construct India’s first 12-inch wafer fab. However, Powerchip has steered clear of operations and long-term commitments, acting only as a technology provider. Company chair Huang Chongren has openly stated that large Taiwanese chipmakers are hesitant to set up operations in India.

According to reports, one of the few reasons Powerchip agreed to engage in India’s semiconductor plan was the direct involvement of then-Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. Even then, the partnership was carefully scoped, limiting responsibility to factory design and employee training.

Other major players, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), were approached by Indian authorities but reportedly declined to involve themselves beyond basic consulting. TSMC offered to provide process knowledge and technology transfer on a contractual basis but showed no interest in running operations or managing supply chains on Indian soil.

Panicker, however, is optimistic. He said that Kaynes is currently in talks with five Taiwanese firms for assembly, testing, and packaging partnerships. “The question is no longer if they’ll come, but when,” he said.

Kaynes to Pilot by August-end

The Indian government has been pushing to reduce its dependence on foreign-made chips and attract top global players to invest in local manufacturing. However, the exits of TSMC, United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), and World Advanced, along with the conservative stance of firms like Powerchip, indicate that the road ahead remains uneven.

As for Kaynes, after the incident, rather than stalling, it swiftly pivoted to new partners, signing an agreement with Japan’s AOI Electronics. It expanded knowledge transfer initiatives to Japan, Penang, and Taiwan, with over 30 employees trained overseas as part of this recalibration.

“Our project cannot stop because somebody broke the trust,” Panicker stressed. “We went ahead, put up the pilot line. As we speak, it’s up and running.” In fact, Kaynes is on track to deliver its first chip from the Sanand Plant by the end of August 2025, marking a critical milestone in India’s semiconductor journey.

State Support, Private Responsibility

As per multiple players in the country, government support is no longer the bottleneck. Panicker revealed that the electronics and IT ministry (MeitY) and the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) have been proactive, from site visits to monthly reviews.

“We’ve received tremendous support, like approvals, visits, and constant engagement from both central and state authorities. Now the ball is in the industry’s court.”

Adding to the conversation, Rajiv Mody, CMD & CEO of Sasken Technologies, told AIM, “I think the government has done quite well. They’ve made the subsidies available and created the ecosystem. Now it’s in the hands of the private sector to say, ‘Okay, how do we leverage it and go forward?’”

This reflects their stances on the foundational support from the government, like subsidies and ecosystem-building. Yet, India must tackle its structural gaps, from cleanroom construction and supply chain localisation to a pool of experienced engineers and ecosystem maturity. These are not short-term projects, and they demand patience and consistency.

Can the Dream Be Rescued?

While India’s semiconductor ambitions are not without merit, recurring partnership failures reveal deeper structural issues. Key among them are the lack of technical expertise in areas such as wafer processing, testing, and silicon photonics, as well as policy inconsistencies that have hindered the rollout of large-scale industrial projects.

The Indian government’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme has been a key draw for some players, but it continues to attract the big players, designers and manufacturers in the industry. 

While India’s domestic startups and contract manufacturers are hopeful that the country can still build a viable ecosystem, it requires patient capital, international mentoring, and realistic expectations. 

This raises a question of whether India is fully utilising its most potent resource: is there enough talent, knowledge and technology transfer taking place? 

The post What’s Stopping India From Becoming a Semiconductor Superpower? appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

Amazon recently surpassed a significant technological milestone. It deployed its one millionth robot across its global operations. This one-millionth unit was delivered to a centre in Japan, adding to a sprawling robotic fleet active in more than 300 facilities worldwide. 

The company claims to be one of the largest operator of mobile robotic systems, transforming the way work is done at leading complex logistics networks. Amazon states that its robotic systems range from item sorters to sensor-equipped humanoids. 

These are part of a broader strategy aimed at boosting efficiency, reducing workplace injuries, and reconfiguring how human labour interacts with automated processes. Its diverse range of robots now involved in 75% of global deliveries, according to the company. 

From heavy-load lifters to tactile-sensing machines and humanoid couriers, the scale of this robotic rollout is also fuelling debate on the future of jobs and the ethics of large-scale automation.

One Million and Counting

Amazon’s robotic journey began in earnest with its 2012 acquisition of Kiva Systems, which developed robots capable of autonomously moving shelves of goods. That core technology has since evolved into a multi-tiered system. 

Today, the company operates a diverse fleet of highly specialised machines, each designed to handle specific logistical tasks at scale. The company also recently unveiled seven new robots for faster and safer deliveries.

At the heavy-duty end is Hercules (2017), a robot that moves inventory pods up to 1,250 pounds in restricted warehouse zones using 3D cameras to navigate busy areas safely. For open, human-shared spaces, Amazon introduced Proteus (2022), its first fully autonomous robot that moves package carts freely using sensors and onboard intelligence. 

Pegasus (2018) handles sorting, utilising a conveyor belt to route packages by ZIP code and dropping them off at loading docks, working in sync with robotic arms like Robin.

Meet the Newer Machines 

The more recently announced, Vulcan made its debut as Amazon’s first robot with a sense of touch. Unveiled in May 2025, Vulcan features two robotic arms, one with a suction cup guided by an AI-powered camera, and another with spatula-like tooling. 

Each is fitted with six-axis force sensors, enabling the robot to accurately gauge the pressure to apply when handling items, thereby mimicking human dexterity. It currently operates in facilities in the US and Germany, having already processed over 500,000 orders.

Beyond the warehouse floor, Amazon is also experimenting with humanoid robots. The company is building an indoor “humanoid park” in San Francisco to test bipedal robots such as Agility Robotics’ Digit and other units capable of climbing stairs and navigating household obstacles. 

These robots are being developed not only for warehouse work but for future integration into last-mile delivery, potentially placing parcels on doorsteps while human drivers focus on transit. 

DeepFleet and Warehouse AI

To manage this robotic ecosystem, Amazon recently launched DeepFleet, a generative AI model built on AWS SageMaker. DeepFleet acts as a warehouse traffic control system, dynamically routing robots to avoid congestion, optimise task efficiency, and improve robot travel time by 10%.

Operating across thousands of machines simultaneously, DeepFleet considers package urgency, battery life, and work zone activity in real-time. Amazon says this technology reduces idle time, speeds up fulfilment, and lowers operational costs, effectively turning its warehouses into living, learning logistics systems.

The company has also established the Frontier AI and Robotics division, which is tasked with integrating generative AI into its logistics systems. The aim is to make decision-making more autonomous, reduce downtime, and anticipate disruptions before they occur. 

This includes identifying items prone to damage during transit and rerouting them to gentler pathways or packing methods. 

Humans in the Loop

As of mid-2025, Amazon employs nearly 1.56 million people globally, including over 700,000 employees who have been upskilled. With robot numbers nearing human headcount, the company insists the goal is augmentation, not substitution. According to Amazon, over 700 new job categories have emerged as a direct result of automation, from robot maintenance technicians to AI system operators.

At new-generation fulfilment centres like the 3-million-square-foot site in Shreveport, Louisiana, robots have increased the need for technical staff by 30%. However, not all trends point to growth. While specific high-skill roles are being created, the company is also using automation to handle increasing volumes without proportional increases in staff. 

President and CEO Andy Jassy has acknowledged that automation could lead to reductions in the traditional warehouse workforce over time.

Not just big tech companies like Amazon, but even smaller startups like Figure AI have shared this sentiment. Brett Adcock, founder of Figure, recently expressed his thoughts in a podcast. He vouched for a massive deep tech acceleration beyond AI. He even mentioned how the entry of more intelligent and advanced robots and agents could give rise to considerable anxiety and potentially a loss of human purpose.

The Game of Logistics

The ability to operate fulfilment centres around the clock, across multiple time zones, gives Amazon an edge in responding to fluctuating consumer demand and unexpected disruptions, whether from supply chain bottlenecks, extreme weather, or geopolitical tensions.

Automation also plays a role in workplace safety. By taking over repetitive and physically demanding tasks such as lifting heavy loads, sorting small parcels, and navigating complex shelving systems, robots like Hercules, Vulcan, and Proteus are reducing injury risks for human workers. 

This shift in the operational model is intensifying pressure on competitors. Major retailers, such as Walmart and Alibaba, are investing in their own automation systems to stay competitive. At the same time, smaller logistics firms often lack the capital to deploy similar technologies on a large scale. 

Amazon’s rapid automation rollout also poses questions for policymakers and labour advocates. With a robot workforce that could soon outnumber human employees in its warehouses, concerns around job displacement, working conditions, and AI oversight are growing. 

Traditional labour laws, designed for human-led workflows, are struggling to keep pace with this shift toward software-defined operations. The real challenge now lies in regulating an industry where machines are not just tools but decision-makers in their own right.

The post Amazon May Soon Replace Humans with Robots in Warehouses  appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

The Andhra Pradesh government has formally approved the Amaravati Quantum Valley Declaration, laying the foundation for what it calls a “globally competitive centre” for quantum science and technology. 

Issued through a government order on July 7, the declaration is the first comprehensive, state-level policy framework of its kind in India, aimed at developing a full-stack quantum ecosystem centred in Amaravati.

The declaration was the key outcome of the Amaravati Quantum Valley Workshop held on June 30 in Vijayawada, which brought together a cross-sectoral mix of government officials, industry leaders, researchers, and startups. 

Designed as a platform for strategic dialogue, the workshop catalysed the drafting of a forward-looking document that outlines shared goals for quantum research, infrastructure, talent development, startup incubation, and global collaboration.

Framing the vision behind the move, Andhra Pradesh IT minister Nara Lokesh, in a LinkedIn post, said, “Quantum is the answer to problems that classical computing can no longer solve. Quantum Valley is going to be a game-changer, and as a policymaker, it is an opportunity of a lifetime to witness the creation of a people-centric innovation ecosystem of this scale, in collaboration with IBM, Larsen & Toubro, and Tata Consultancy Services.”

The roadmap under the Amaravati Quantum Valley Declaration is both expansive and time-bound. 

Within a year, the state plans to establish QChipIN, which is set to become India’s largest open quantum testbed, according to the annexure of the government order accessed by AIM. 

It will house quantum computers, quantum key distribution (QKD) fibre links, and sensor networks to run pilots in sectors like healthcare, banking, logistics, defence, and space. The infrastructure will be located in a dedicated tech park developed through academia-industry partnerships.

Among the most ambitious targets is the installation of the IBM Quantum System Two in Amaravati by January 1, 2026, the declaration stated. By then, the state also intends to be capable of testing 100 quantum algorithms. 

Further down the line, three quantum computers based on different qubit technologies are expected to be deployed by 2027, with the goal of reaching a combined capacity of 1,000 effective qubits by 2029.

In an assertive push for indigenous capability, the declaration includes a manufacturing goal: to build domestic production facilities for cryo-electronics, quantum chips, photonic components, and readout hardware. This segment is expected to reach ₹5,000 crore in annual exports by 2030.

Grooming Talent

The human capital strategy is equally robust. Amaravati will launch the country’s first Integrated Quantum Skilling Ecosystem through the Amaravati Quantum Academy. Starting with 200 trained specialists in the first year, the academy aims to train 5,000 individuals annually by 2030. At least 20 universities in Andhra Pradesh and 100 across India are expected to offer quantum technology programs by 2027, with micro-degree curricula ready by 2026.

According to the declaration, a National Startup Forum will be formed to disburse capital using a milestone-based venture model. A ₹1,000 crore quantum fund will support 20 startups in the first year and 100 by 2030. 

Investment targets are equally aggressive. Amaravati aims to attract $500 million in quantum investments by 2027 and $1 billion by 2029. 

To align with global trends and standards, the declaration proposes the creation of a Global Quantum Collaboration Council, in partnership with India’s National Quantum Mission (NQM). This body will promote international research alliances, build trusted supply chains, and foster global interoperability. 

A multi-stakeholder Amaravati Quantum Valley Mission Board will oversee governance, monitor progress with quarterly KPI dashboards, and organise an annual World Quantum Expo beginning in 2026.

With this integrated and time-bound approach, Andhra Pradesh seeks to transform Amaravati into a global centre for deep-tech innovation by 2035, the order further stated. 

The Rest of India

Currently, Andhra Pradesh is the only Indian state to have released a formal declaration guiding its quantum technology efforts. 

Karnataka, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science, has a Quantum Research Park (QuRP), a hub for quantum computing and related technologies. QuRP aims to encourage scientific inventions and innovations in quantum computing and related fields.

Other states such as Delhi, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu are participating in quantum research through central government initiatives, primarily via the NQM approved by the Union Cabinet in April 2023 with a budget of ₹6,003.65 crore. 

These efforts are distributed across thematic hubs hosted by institutions like IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, and IIT Bombay, focusing on academic research, lab infrastructure, and startup incubation. However, none have released a standalone policy declaration like Andhra Pradesh.

Credits to Naidu

Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu is widely credited with transforming Hyderabad into a major IT hub during his tenure as the CM of united Andhra Pradesh in the late 1990s and early 2000s. As a result, he earned the moniker ‘CEO of Andhra Pradesh’. 

KT Rama Rao, a political rival from Telangana and a former state IT Minister, had acknowledged Naidu’s significant role in attracting investments to Hyderabad, crediting the TDP chief for laying the foundation of the city’s IT growth.

“I can’t take undue credit for Microsoft being here (in Hyderabad). In fact, all credit goes to Chandrababu Naidu…He definitely has done his best. In fact, when Hyderabad was not as well-known as it is today in the IT space, he went all the way to Bill Gates, convinced him and eventually the development centre (of Microsoft) was established about 17 years ago. So, all credit to him for that,” KTR was quoted as saying. 

The post Inside Amaravati’s Vision to Build a Billion-Dollar Quantum Valley appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

India’s deep-tech ecosystem has been abuzz with activity in recent months, ranking sixth in terms of performance and strength when compared to the top eight globally. The AI wave has only accelerated its rise.

From ministers to startup founders and venture capitalists, the potential of this domain has left everyone impressed. The majority of discussions have focused on semiconductors, space technology, quantum computing, and telecommunications. Though still in its infancy, robotics, including autonomous vehicles and healthcare, has also come to the forefront in the past few years. 

Adding to this bustle, the Union cabinet, on July 1, approved the Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, which aims to scale up private sector participation in research and innovation across strategic and emerging domains. The scheme, backed by a ₹1 lakh crore corpus, is poised to offer long-term financing or refinancing at low or nil interest rates.

Chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the cabinet’s decision aims to address critical funding constraints in sunrise sectors, including AI, quantum technologies, semiconductors, defence, and space. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will serve as the nodal agency for implementing this. 

The scheme is designed to strengthen India’s push towards technological self-reliance and global competitiveness by 2047.

Today’s Cabinet decision relating to Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme will be a game changer in the world of research and innovation. This scheme, with a corpus of Rs. 1 lakh crore will have a major impact on emerging and sunrise sectors. It will also boost…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 1, 2025

Light on the Private Sector

The scheme places a strong emphasis on encouraging private players to invest in higher levels of Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), acquire critical technologies, and build a pipeline of commercially viable innovations.

The country’s deep-tech sector is finally finding the direction it has long waited for. Space-tech startups stand to gain the most from the RDI Scheme, which offers concessional loans and a dedicated deep-tech fund. 

Srinath Ravichandran, co-founder and CEO of space-tech startup Agnikul Cosmos, said, “The announcement of direct financial support for R&D is unprecedented at this scale. This shows that the government believes in the deep-tech potential in India.”

The initiative comes as India positions itself for Viksit Bharat 2047, its long-term vision of becoming a developed nation. The government hopes the scheme will catalyse private innovation, attract long-term capital, and enable the commercialisation of sovereign technologies.

The RDI Scheme introduces a two-tiered funding structure. 

At the first level, a Special Purpose Fund (SPF) will be established within the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). This fund will allocate resources to second-level fund managers, who will finance eligible R&D projects. These will primarily be concessional loans, though equity investments may also be considered for startups.

Deep Tech Takes Off

Anil Kumar Bhatt, director general of the Indian Space Association (ISpA), underscored the momentum within the sector saying, “The provision of concessional loans, equity support, and the proposed deep-tech fund is expected to provide a critical financial boost to Indian space-tech startups, enabling accelerated development, deployment, and commercialisation of cutting-edge technologies.” 

He also expressed confidence that space-based research and deep-tech innovation will play a prominent role within the scheme’s ambit. 

It’s not just him; Indian deep-tech investors nod to this, too. 

“This move will empower our brightest innovators, attract long-term capital, and accelerate the development of sovereign technologies critical to both economic and strategic resilience,” said Vishesh Rajaram, managing partner at Speciale Invest.

Previously, in an exclusive interview, his co-founder and general partner, Arjun Rao, told AIM, “Our deep-tech ecosystem is only 6–8 years old, but we’re beginning to see an explosion.” His firm has backed high-potential companies across various sectors, including space, semiconductors, and quantum. 

In semiconductors alone, senior engineers with two decades of experience are leaving MNCs to build India-first chip design startups. “We already have the talent. Now, with early capital and patient capital, we can build our own SpaceX or Palantir,” Rao added. 

The RDI Scheme’s structure enables investors like these to remain committed through the high-risk 0-to-1 phase. 

Oversight and Long-term Direction

The ANRF governing board, chaired by the Prime Minister, will provide strategic guidance to the scheme. The executive council of ANRF, led by principal scientific adviser Ajay Kumar Sood, will finalise operational guidelines and recommend project types and second-level fund managers. 

Additionally, an Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS), chaired by the cabinet secretary, will monitor the performance and evolution of the scheme.

The Deeptech Fund of Funds (FoF) is a key element within the RDI Scheme, designed to enhance capital access for high-potential deep-tech innovations. Contributions to other funds aligned with RDI goals could also be permitted.

By creating an innovation-friendly funding structure, the RDI Scheme marks a shift in the country’s approach to tech development, from government-led initiatives to one that actively empowers private enterprise.

The post India’s Deep Tech Dreams Just Got a ₹1 Trillion Launchpad appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

Global players, such as Elon Musk’s Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper, are preparing to enter the Indian market and setting the stage for a new era of satellite internet competition. The company has reportedly submitted its acceptance of the IN-SPACe authorisation letter and has agreed to all conditions in the final draft. This brings it closer to finally beginning operations in India.

Starlink has also previously secured a letter of intent (LoI) from the Centre’s telecommunications department (DoT), marking a significant step towards launching satellite internet services in the country. 

This approval follows Starlink’s addressal of national security concerns and its agreement to comply with India’s regulatory and security requirements. As of June 6, it was also granted license authorisations to offer satellite-based connectivity in India. 

These licenses allow them to deploy ground stations and begin commercial services once spectrum and operational clearances are finalised. The portal also outlines compliance requirements under India’s regulatory framework, ensuring that satellite players adhere to national security, licensing, and user identification norms.

Regardless, the license does not confer any right to assignment or spectrum use, for which a separate specific frequency assignment will be required from the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) Wing of DoT.

Costs Shake Up the Market

Indian mobile broadband prices hover around ₹10 per GB, making the Indian market extremely price-sensitive. In comparison, Starlink’s residential plans, as seen recently in Bhutan, cost around ₹3,000 a month for 100 Mbps speeds with unlimited data, a steep premium over Indian mobile tariffs.

An industry expert, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed, “Starlink is not at all a competition for mainstream mobile networks, partly due to pricing. With typical Indian consumers paying around ₹300 per month for fibre broadband, Starlink’s monthly charge of ₹3,000 is unaffordable for the mass market.”

Moreover, Sid Tipnis, partner at Deloitte India’s TMT consulting practice, believes that affordability is an issue. “As a play, to say that you will need to attach a device which costs you ₹30,000 upfront…the affordability has to first come up from a B2C standpoint.”

Moreover, the cost of Starlink’s user terminals, which require a flat satellite dish, adds a significant upfront expense that Indian consumers may hesitate to bear.

Tamil Nadu information technology and digital services minister, Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, recently announced in the state assembly that the government will roll out a high-speed internet plan offering 100 Mbps connectivity at ₹200 per month to households by the end of 2025.

Starlink is Not a Competition

India’s existing 4G and expanding 5G networks already provide wide coverage, including rural areas. Reliance Jio alone has over 494.47 million subscribers. For Starlink, competing directly with such established terrestrial networks will require pricing strategies and services that address these market realities.

The current absence of a formalised satellite spectrum policy is a critical bottleneck. With the policy still being drafted, it suggests that commercial rollout could face further delays.

Starlink’s arrival in India is backed by an unexpected partnership with the country’s two largest telecom providers, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, who together control nearly most of India’s mobile broadband market. This collaboration allows Starlink to utilise the existing retail and distribution infrastructure of these giants without heavy upfront investment.

While some claim satellite services will not compete with terrestrial networks, experts suggest that they will be competitive where traditional coverage is cost-ineffective, such as in remote areas like deserts, oceans, or forests.

Regardless, the expert further mentioned, “Starlink will mostly tap the rural market where there is no fibre. But fibre is still essential to an extent. Satellite is not designed to handle the massive scale of telecom networks.”

He also pointed out performance issues regarding Starlink’s reliance on Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. “You will stay in coverage for nine to 10 minutes, and then experience a switch before the next satellite comes in. This causes signal fluctuations.”

Such limitations, he added, reduce Starlink’s potential to match the seamless experience of terrestrial networks, especially in mobile contexts.

Spectrum Battles and Regulatory Moves

The Indian government’s approach to satellite spectrum allocation will play a crucial role in determining the success of satellite internet providers. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) initially favoured a spectrum auction model, advocating for satellite operators to pay fees comparable to those of terrestrial network providers to ensure a level playing field.

Industry leaders, such as Airtel chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal, have publicly supported auctions, arguing that satellite services require differential pricing that reflects their role in supplementing mobile coverage in hard-to-reach areas, rather than directly competing with terrestrial services.

Yet, the Telecommunications Act of 2023 allows for administrative allocation of satellite spectrum. This shift enabled Starlink’s swift entry into the Indian market, giving it an edge by utilising the telecom giants’ extensive sales networks. Final spectrum pricing and licensing terms are still pending, with ongoing consultations influencing the regulatory landscape.

India’s decision on how to allocate spectrum could influence future satellite internet policies globally, as many nations are interested in the world’s second-largest telecom market.

The debate over whether satellite spectrum should be auctioned or administratively allocated remains heated. “Ideally, it should be a level playing field. All service providers, terrestrial or satellite, should meet the same obligations,” the expert mentioned.

Tipnis added context to the telcos’ concerns, stating that there’s a dichotomy. Telcos paid for spectrum via auctions, expecting long-term exclusivity, but satellite players could receive allocation without auctions.

Who Wins the Digital Divide?

Despite rapid growth, India’s rural internet penetration remains a challenge. About 70% of rural households lack reliable internet access, a gap that satellite connectivity is uniquely positioned to fill.

The government’s National Broadband Mission aims to extend affordable broadband to all corners of the country. Satellite internet providers, including Airtel and Starlink, are expected to complement terrestrial networks by covering remote regions that remain dark or unconnected.

Bharti Enterprises has already launched hundreds of satellites and operates in multiple countries. Its satellite internet services are expected to offer high-speed connectivity in underserved hilly terrains, forest zones, and coastal regions—areas where fibre and mobile networks struggle to reach. However, it awaits government approval for the allocation of satellite spectrum before rolling out commercial services. 

Moreover, fixed wireless access (FWA) services leveraging 5G, such as JioAirFiber and Airtel Xstream, are expanding rapidly. These services provide fibre-like speeds without the cost of laying cables, competing directly with satellite internet in semi-urban and rural markets.

Starlink’s longer-term success in India may depend on launching direct-to-cell services, currently in beta in other countries. These services allow satellites to communicate directly with mobile phones. However, this will require complex regulatory approvals, ground station setups, and cooperation with local telecom operators.

The post Musk’s Starlink Might Face a Harder Route in India than Anticipated appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

India’s satellite internet ambitions are gathering speed, but a regulatory rift threatens to stall the take-off. With players like Bharti Airtel-backed Eutelsat OneWeb, Starlink and  Jio Satellite Communications Limited (JSCL) preparing to beam broadband from space, the country’s spectrum allocation policy has emerged as a critical flashpoint.

While satellite internet holds potential for bridging the rural-urban digital divide, the debate is heating up over pricing, infrastructure parity, and fair competition. Telcom and satellite operators are locked in a high-stakes face-off, with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) caught in the middle.

The satellite spectrum allotment in India is currently undergoing finalisation, and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is expected to release a draft soon for stakeholder feedback. 

Siddhartha Tipnis, partner for TMT consulting at Deloitte, told AIM that most players are expected to provide fixed broadband, mobile and messaging services in these areas, followed by customer premise presence post Lawful Interception and Monitoring (LIM) demonstrations.

Space Wars Begin on Earth

TRAI’s current recommendation proposes administrative spectrum allocation, likely on a first-come, first-served basis, for satellite services instead of auctioning it, like in the case of terrestrial spectrum. Tipnis added that administrative spectrum allocations are expected in the 500 MHz band—Ka and Ku bands. 

This is alongside an annual charge of 4% of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) or ₹3,500 per MHz, whichever is higher. Moreover, Satcom operators must pay an additional ₹500 per subscriber in urban areas and an 8% AGR licence fee.

Telecom operators, under the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), have called the pricing framework non-transparent and unfair. They argue that satellite services are not mere complements but competitors, especially in high-demand data markets. With spectrum auctions costing them over ₹5 trillion cumulatively, telcos say satellite operators are being given regulatory leniency without similar financial obligations.

Tipnis echoed this concern from the telecom industry, stating that a new technology may target the same customers without the same obligations. He added that while satellite services might be better suited for hard-to-reach geographies, regulators must balance innovation with fairness.

Airtel, which has hundreds of satellites in orbit and a ground infrastructure ready in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, is awaiting the final government nod. Its satellite internet offering is designed to target hilly terrains, forest belts and coastal areas, zones where fibre and mobile networks struggle. Starlink, which recently secured a licence from DoT, is similarly poised to enter the market.

According to the DoT’s Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) portal, Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb, and JSCL have been granted authorisations to offer satellite-based connectivity in India. 

These licenses allow them to deploy ground stations and begin commercial services once spectrum and operational clearances are finalised. The portal also outlines compliance requirements under India’s regulatory framework, ensuring that satellite players adhere to national security, licensing, and user identification norms.

Who Gets to Close the Digital Divide?

With 70% of rural Indian households still lacking reliable internet, the potential for satellite connectivity is vast. The government’s National Broadband Mission aims to bring broadband to every corner of the country, and satellite internet could be crucial for reaching underserved regions.

Airtel and Starlink’s solutions could plug coverage gaps where terrestrial services can’t reach. However, device affordability may be a roadblock. The cost of satellite terminals currently ranges between ₹20,000 and ₹50,000, compared to an average of ₹5,000 for terrestrial broadband devices.

Amazon’s Project Kuiper is also reportedly preparing to enter India’s satellite broadband space. The company plans to deploy over 3,200 low-earth orbit satellites globally. The company has reportedly applied for a GMPCS licence and is in early-stage discussions with Indian authorities for market entry. Its entry could intensify competition and potentially drive down hardware and service costs for rural users.

TRAI’s proposal includes possible subsidies through the Digital Bharat Nidhi fund to reduce upfront hardware costs in rural areas. Telcos have opposed this, stating they already contribute 5% of their AGR to the fund and question why it should be used to subsidise competitors.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu’s government has announced a state-backed plan to offer 100 Mbps connectivity for ₹200 per month by the end of 2025, a stark contrast to the current considerably higher satellite pricing. This suggests that satellite internet may initially find its footing with enterprise customers such as logistics, maritime, defence and railways, before trickling down to households.

Tipnis noted that while satellite services promise coverage even in the deepest parts of India, they are unlikely to be a game-changer for the mass B2C market due to affordability constraints. “You will get coverage and you will get market, no doubt, but whether it’s going to acquire subscribers disruptively, probably not,” he said, pointing instead to high-impact enterprise use cases like oil and gas exploration, emergency services, and manufacturing in remote areas.

Are Telcos and Satellites Really Rivals?

The central tension lies in whether satellite internet will complement or compete with terrestrial networks. While TRAI maintains that satellite services are better suited for niche rural deployment and hence shouldn’t be equated with mobile networks, telcos disagree.

They cite upcoming constellations like Starlink and Kuiper, which claim planned capacities of 51 Tbps and 83 Tbps over India, respectively. This is greater than the current terrestrial traffic of 23 billion GB monthly, and they argue that this signals direct competition. Broadband India Forum (BIF), representing satellite players, disputes these projections, stating they’re speculative and years away from full-scale realisation.

Recently, Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, Union minister of state for communications, reportedly stated that Starlink is not positioned to compete with India’s telecom providers, but instead serves as a backup for hard-to-reach areas. 

He noted that with setup costing around ₹33,000, with monthly charges of ₹3,000, Starlink remains out of reach for most rural users, especially as BSNL offers broadband plans starting at ₹400. Pemmasani also pointed out that BharatNet has already extended fibre connectivity to nearly all gram panchayats, leaving only the most remote locations where satellite may be necessary.

Tipnis highlighted emergency response as a critical and under-discussed use case for satellite networks. “In a crisis situation, if everybody is calling each other, the telecom network gets choked. Having an alternative service dedicated to emergency communications raises quality without interfering with normal mobility,” he explained.

The Road Ahead Is Crowded

Looking ahead, the regulatory outcome of this spectrum debate will define the trajectory of India’s satellite internet sector. TRAI believes that the ecosystem is nascent, and assigning long-term, auction-priced spectrum would stifle growth. Telcos, however, argue that a level playing field demands parity in cost, expectations, and obligations.

Starlink is also testing direct-to-cell technology globally, which allows phones to communicate with satellites directly. If successful in India, this could disrupt the existing mobile network model entirely. However, it would require intricate coordination with existing telecom infrastructure and regulatory approval.

It’s not just Starlink, even BSNL is pushing. On June 18, BSNL announced a soft launch in Hyderabad of its Quantum 5G FWA, a SIM‑less, indigenous fixed‑wireless‑access (FWA) service. This is built on BSNL’s direct-to-device platform, meaning no physical SIM is required. This makes it the first Indian operator to showcase this service, offering enterprise-grade connectivity at ₹999/month, with pilots expanding to Bengaluru, Pune and other cities by September 2025.

While FWA services like JioAirFiber and Airtel Xstream offer stiff competition in semi-urban areas, satellite services could become essential in areas with terrain or population density challenges. But to gain scale, satellite internet must meet India’s twin demands of affordability and adaptability.

The post India’s Satellite Internet Scramble Has a Spectrum Problem appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

In Jagiroad, Assam, a ₹27,000 crore semiconductor assembly and test facility is under construction on the site of a defunct paper mill. On Monday, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma engaged with multiple industry leaders at the Assam Electronics Roundtable 2025 in New Delhi to propel Assam’s progress in semiconductors, ECMS, and the electronics sector.

This initiative for this unit, led by Tata Electronics, aims to position India as a significant player in the global semiconductor industry and produce around 48 million chips daily. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently highlighted the project’s potential, stating that the first ‘Make in India’ chip will soon emerge from the Northeast. This follows the expectations of the first chips coming out of Tata’s Dholera facility in Gujarat.

In addition to Assam’s Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test (TSAT), Tata Electronics appointed Tim McIntosh (former Intel) as vice president and head of operations and manufacturing excellence. However, while the Jagiroad facility holds promise, Assam’s socio-political complexities, infrastructure gaps, and global competition raise critical questions about its ability to deliver on India’s semiconductor ambitions.

The Roundtable

The roundtable drew strong support from industry bodies like the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA) and SEMI, which commended Assam’s proactive push under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS). 

Describing Assam’s ECMS framework as one of the most progressive in the country, with up to 60% incentives and additional policy backing, IESA president Ashok Chandak underscored the state’s multi-pronged strategies to maximise the global impact of the ECMS.

“With the powerful combination of the ECMS Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, the Semicon India program, and progressive state government policies, India is poised to build a globally competitive and resilient electronics manufacturing ecosystem,” said Chandak.

With senior representatives from NXP Semiconductors, Kaynes Technology, and RamaKrishna Electro Components in attendance, discussions focused on international collaboration, strengthening the local component ecosystem, and encouraging EMS and OEM firms to invest in the region. 

While Sarma’s engagements with companies like ASMPT, AEM, and the Singapore Semiconductor Industries Association during his recent Singapore visit for the “Advantage Assam 2.0” summit signal growing interest, some players remain sceptical. 

Karnataka’s IT/BT minister Priyank Kharge, for instance, criticised the project, arguing that Assam lacks the industrial ecosystem to support such an ambitious venture. This sentiment reflects broader doubts about the state’s readiness. 

“They don’t have an ecosystem of research there. They don’t have an ecosystem of incubation. They don’t have an ecosystem of innovations…when 70% of the chip designing talent lies in Karnataka, I don’t understand why the government wants to push to another state by using political clout,” he said to Moneycontrol. 

This followed a public spat between the two ministers (Kharge and Sarma), during which they both expressed criticism for the other state’s talent and progress.

Infrastructure and Talent 

The transformation of the old paper mill into a semiconductor facility signifies a shift in Assam’s industrial landscape. The project is part of a broader strategy to decentralise India’s tech manufacturing and integrate the Northeast into the national industrial framework.

The facility is expected to commence chip production by 2026, contributing to India’s goal of becoming self-reliant in semiconductor manufacturing. McIntosh’s experience is anticipated to enhance the plant’s manufacturing capabilities to ensure operational excellence.

Additionally, the company recently appointed KC Ang, formerly with GlobalFoundries, to lead Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing and oversee the company’s foundry operations at the Dholera facility.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted a few months ago on LinkedIn that the Tata semiconductor plant in Jagiroad is progressing steadily and aims to deliver “Made in India, Made in Assam” chips by 2026.

He noted, “Reliable utilities are critical for semiconductor manufacturing,” as the government laid the foundation for a ₹111 crore water supply project. Efforts are also underway to develop specialised training programmes in collaboration with the MoU signed with the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT) to cultivate a skilled workforce for the semiconductor sector.

However, Assam’s broader infrastructure deficits could undermine these efforts. The state’s industrial ecosystem is underdeveloped compared to tech hubs like Karnataka or Tamil Nadu, lacking established supply chains, ancillary industries, and robust logistics networks.

The Northeast’s geographical isolation and less-developed road and rail infrastructure could hinder the seamless export of chips to global markets like Japan, the US, and Europe, where Tata is already sending packaged chips from its Bengaluru R&D centre.

Power reliability is another concern. Semiconductor manufacturing requires uninterrupted, high-quality electricity, but Assam has historically faced power shortages. While the state invests in renewable energy projects like rooftop solar and floating solar plants, these initiatives may not meet the facility’s immediate needs by 2026.

Hiring from Southeast Asia

To support the growing industrial ecosystem, a housing facility for 40,000 technical workers is planned. Tata Electronics is also promoting a hiring drive, especially in Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia and Singapore.

According to NE Today, Sarma also leads efforts to attract international investment. During his recent visit to Singapore for the “Advantage Assam 2.0” summit, Sarma engaged with business leaders and key stakeholders to showcase Assam’s potential as a centre for semiconductor production.

He toured advanced facilities at AEM Singapore and met with members of the Singapore Semiconductor Industries Association, inviting companies across the semiconductor value chain to explore opportunities in Assam. Highlighting the state’s vision, Sarma also unveiled plans for a World Skill Centre, designed to align local talent with Industry 4.0 requirements.

Semiconductor manufacturing requires large amounts of water, energy, and chemicals. While the facility is strategically located with access to “abundant water and green power,” Assam’s environmental vulnerabilities, such as frequent flooding from the Brahmaputra River, could complicate operations.

A Global Reality Check

India’s semiconductor ambitions, including the Assam project, face stiff global competition and economic challenges. Established hubs like Taiwan, South Korea, and China dominate the global supply chain, benefiting from decades of investment and expertise. Even within India, states like Gujarat and Karnataka have a head start, with Gujarat’s Dholera facility set to produce chips before Jagiroad. 

Tata Electronics has already begun exporting semiconductor chips packaged at its Bengaluru-based research and development centre to partners in Japan, the US, and Europe.

As the Jagiroad facility progresses, its success will depend on overcoming infrastructure challenges and developing a skilled workforce. The project’s outcome will be a significant indicator of India’s capacity to establish itself in the global semiconductor industry.

The post Will Assam be Able to Deliver Made In India Chip by 2026? appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

Robotics is a long game that has everyone hooked on fantasies of humanoids walking, talking, and looking just like us. But the real revolution in robotics is happening where you might not expect it: on factory floors, in warehouses, and behind the scenes of global supply chains. 

As businesses worldwide grapple with labour shortages and the need for more resilient operations, industrial robots are stepping up. These aren’t humanoid machines designed to mimic our appearance; they’re purpose-built, intelligent systems equipped with AI, advanced vision, and mobility. 

These smart machines are not only boosting precision and efficiency but are also addressing critical labour shortages and enhancing supply chain resilience. Unlike their humanoid counterparts, which are still navigating developmental challenges, industrial robots have already proven their worth in real-world applications. 

They are seamlessly integrating into production lines, collaborating with human workers, and adapting to dynamic environments. 

The Rise of the Invisible Workforce

The majority of industrial robots today bear little resemblance to humans. Instead, they include articulated robotic arms, Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arm (SCARA) robots, collaborative robots (cobots), and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). These are purpose-built systems that prioritise function over form, a key reason they’re seeing widespread adoption across industries.

According to recent projections, the global industrial robotics market is set to grow from $87.1 billion in 2024 to $162.7 billion by 2030. Collaborative robots are outpacing other segments, growing at a projected CAGR of over 31.6% from 2025 to 2030. The International Federation of Robotics noted that low-cost robotics offers solutions for potential customers who find a high-performance robot oversized for their needs.

Robot density is rising sharply, with countries like South Korea exceeding 1,000 robots per 10,000 manufacturing workers in 2024. China, the largest consumer of industrial robots, installed around 276,288 units in 2023 alone. India, while still in the early stages, saw a 59% rise in installations. These trends point to a significant global shift in how labour and automation intersect.

AI, Vision and Movement Are Game Changers

Modern robots are increasingly powered by AI, advanced vision systems, and mobility tech. Cobots can now ‘see’ using machine vision and navigate unpredictable environments using simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM) techniques. AI algorithms allow these robots to handle variability and even learn new tasks through physical simulation, a process sometimes called “Physical AI.”

Sensors also play a critical role. A new generation of 3D ultrasonic sensors called ADAR (Acoustic Detection and Ranging) offers robots real-time environmental awareness, developed by the Norwegian robotics company, Sonair. These technologies are enabling robots to work safely alongside humans and adapt to dynamic manufacturing settings.

These smart machines are not only seeing but also reasoning. For example, NVIDIA’s Isaac platform enables robots to train in virtual environments, cutting real-world testing costs and speeding deployment. This shift from hard-coded actions to experience-based learning is transforming how industries approach automation projects, from design to scale-up.

From Warehouses to Operating Rooms

Beyond manufacturing, robots are entering diverse spaces. In warehouses, AMRs move goods autonomously. Companies like GreyOrange and Unbox Robotics provide robotic solutions that are optimising parcel sortation and order fulfilment in e-commerce.

Healthcare is another frontier where robotics has taken a leap. Surgical arms like KUKA’s LBR Med perform precision procedures. Hospitals use AMRs to deliver medication and manage logistics. Cobots help in lab automation, especially in sterile environments where human error can be costly.

In India, the first indigenously developed robotic surgical system, ‘SSi Mantra’, recently received regulatory approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for telesurgery and teleproctoring. The system performed its first surgeries in January this year.

In Romania, Ford’s engine plant integrated cobots to manage greasing and inspection, relieving workers from repetitive tasks. At GE Healthcare in the US, AMRs enabled the consolidation of four repair centres into one, cutting floor space. 

Back in India, Bajaj Auto standardised cobots across assembly lines, enabling ergonomic work environments, especially for female employees. These examples show robots aren’t replacing humans outright; they’re taking on tasks that improve workflow and workplace safety.

The Investment is Industrial, Not Sci-Fi

Investors are betting big on this shift. In 2024 alone, global VC investment in robotics almost reached $7.5 billion, with funding flowing into logistics and industrial robotics rather than humanoids. India’s GreyOrange raised $135 million, while ATI Motors secured $20 million to scale its AMRs.

These investments aren’t just speculative. Companies like Standard Bots are delivering high-performance cobots at half the price of competitors, while ABB and Fuji Automatic Numerical Control (FANUC) continue to develop robots that serve the automotive, electronics, and even food industries. 

ABB even announced plans to spin off its robotics division, ABB Robotics, into a separately listed company with trading expected to begin independently in the second quarter of 2026.

Government support, particularly in China through its ‘Made in China 2025’ strategy, is also fuelling rapid innovation and domestic adoption. India is catching up with initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and a draft National Strategy on Robotics. However, global disparities in policy support suggest uneven robotics adoption, especially in emerging economies.

The future of robotics isn’t shaped by faces, voices, or walking androids. It’s being defined by precision arms, rolling carts with sensors, and code that teaches machines to work smarter. As industries adapt to shifting workforces and economic demands, robots that don’t look human are taking centre stage, with just functions more than faces.

The post Faceless Robots are Taking Over the Future of Work appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

As industries wake up to the power of location intelligence, Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies are becoming integral to sectors such as urban planning, agriculture, transportation, and disaster management. These tools empower organisations to make informed decisions, streamline operations, and deliver services with greater impact. 

The global GIS market is experiencing significant growth. Projections indicate an increase from $32.97 billion in 2024 to $55.75 billion by 2029, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.1%. In India, the geospatial solutions sector is poised for substantial expansion. It is expected to grow from $23.5 billion in 2024 to $79.3 billion by 2030, driven by advancements in 3D scanning and spatial analytics. 

When it comes to geospatial technology in the country, Esri India is a heavyweight you can’t ignore. The company, led by managing director Agendra Kumar since 2013, is quietly powering millions of daily users and thousands of government organisations with its GIS technology.

“We have close to 6,500 organisational customers in the country. In terms of users, maybe 1.2 million people use some app running on our technology every day,” Kumar told AIM in an exclusive interview. The scope for Esri is quite vast—from national mapping agencies to utilities like electric distribution companies, city gas firms, and telecom giants such as Jio and Airtel. 

“About 70% of our revenue comes from the government,” he added, explaining the deep integration with various state and national bodies.

Digital Earth, Living Atlas and AI

Esri India is not just a software company; it creates geospatial technology and invests heavily in data. A flagship initiative is its ‘Living Atlas’, a cloud-hosted repository that curates openly published data from government sources. 

“If it’s not geo-referenced, somebody from our team will work on that, geo-reference it. If it’s available in PDF or Excel files, we geo-reference and bring that data into our Living Atlas, which is a very large repository of data now.” Kumar explained that more than a thousand layers of data are available in this.

This freely accessible data resource is complemented by over 200 solution products developed to tackle common challenges such as disaster management, flooding, forest fires, drainage, and water distribution—all created by Indian teams for the country’s niche needs.

A significant part of Esri India’s recent technological advances is in AI and machine learning. Kumar described how these are integrated for practical uses, with the initial use cases being primarily technical. This feature extraction is simply just object identification. 

Citing examples from traffic analysis to identifying defence vehicles or aircraft, he explained, “Human identification can be done. For example, we had done something in the office. We counted the number of people passing near the reception [using this]. Even face recognition can be done if it is required.”

Keeping Secrets and Boundaries

Handling sensitive data, especially in defence, demands tight security and ethical care. Kumar stressed that Esri India never holds defence data. “Their data remains on their premises on their computers. So even if there’s an application to be done, often our people will go to their office and work.” 

Esri India’s Indo ArcGIS is a comprehensive GIS software platform that enables organisations to create, manage, and analyse spatial data. It supports mapping, data integration, and location-based intelligence for diverse sectors including government, utilities, defence, and urban management. 

With capabilities like AI, machine learning, and 3D visualisation, ArcGIS helps users gain actionable insights from geographic data, improving decision-making and operational efficiency across India.

The ArcGIS platform can be on the cloud or totally on-premises, not necessarily requiring a connection to the internet. Hence, this allows the solution to stay with the client. Highlighting the mutual trust in this arrangement, he said, “They also do not want to expose what they have, and we also don’t want to get into those things.”

Defence and Security GIS

Esri India’s engagement with defence and security agencies dates back long before Kumar joined the company. “Many of them have become advanced users of our technology. They don’t really need our help every day to use it. They know how to use it because they also deal with a lot of confidential information,” he said.

The company supports organisations such as DRDO and homeland security agencies with mapping and weather modelling, which are crucial for extreme conditions like cold, snow, and avalanches. 

Kumar highlighted the importance of location intelligence in security operations. According to him, GIS is known as ‘the science of where’. It captures all types of information, such as what is happening and where an incident has taken place. This information then gets converted to a map and is available to the decision makers.

Real-time situational awareness is vital in conflict. “Systems have to be created well in advance because you can’t create them when the action has to be taken,” Kumar added.

Esri India processes drone data, providing both cloud and on-premise solutions, including 3D visualisation tools that support navigation, target setting, asset management, and strategic planning. 

“So, they are very realistic images, creating fly-throughs and walk-throughs. This helps in navigation, target setting, target identification,” Kumar said. While the data collected for defence remains strictly with the forces themselves, Esri’s technology supports its use in simulations, training, and planning.

“If there is a monument which needs to be protected, and there is a suspicion that someday terrorists may attack it, you want to train some commandos. So you can use a 3D model to train commandos on how to go inside, what to expect inside,” Kumar noted.

The Road Ahead

Though the GIS sector in India is still emerging, Kumar is optimistic about its trajectory. He attributed this to recent government policies, adding that till 2021, there was a lack of clarity on geospatial data policies. 

The companies were initially uncertain about rules surrounding acquisition. This is why the new set of guidelines came out in 2021, followed by the National Geospatial Policy in 2022. “So these two documents, along with remote sensing data policy and drone policy, have made the whole ecosystem quite conducive for business,” he added.

This clarity has enabled wider adoption beyond government into private sectors like manufacturing, retail, BFSI (banking, financial services, and insurance), and logistics. “Success for retail distribution, optimisation in manufacturing and logistics, insurance claims settlement—these are some of the things which are upcoming,” Kumar said.

He also pointed to the rising interest in 3D mapping and digital twins, technologies that go beyond pretty visualisations to solving real problems such as urban flooding and infrastructure management. He acknowledged that the true value of a digital twin will come when it’s used to solve a problem, be it traffic, urban flooding or improving the utility infrastructure.

The Indian government’s flagship projects, such as Gati Shakti, SVAMITVA, and Naksha, have been pivotal in boosting the geospatial ecosystem by creating foundational mapping data for villages and cities.

Kumar noted that the industry still involves “a lot of service orientation and not so much of technology orientation”. He expects this to shift with time as startups and educational institutions increasingly embrace geospatial innovation.

The post This Company Simulates Training For Indian Commandos, Creates a Living Atlas appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

At Computex 2025 in Taipei, NVIDIA delved into its stronghold on the AI and quantum computing capabilities, mentioning not only existing and upgraded solutions but also partnerships that will be essential to merge the hardware and software chain. 

In his keynote, CEO Jensen Huang introduced the NVLink Fusion system, designed to enhance chip-to-chip communication and facilitate the development and deployment of AI tools. 

This technology integrates third-party CPUs and AI chips into NVIDIA’s server platforms, shifting from its traditional full-stack AI solutions. 

In addition to hardware advancements, NVIDIA announced plans to invest in Taiwan’s tech infrastructure, announcing an AI supercomputer in the country. These developments underscore the giant’s commitment to fostering global AI infrastructure, with Huang calling it an industry worth ‘Trillions of Dollars’.

The company is actively intensifying its efforts in quantum computing and AI integration. It is reportedly in advanced talks to invest in PsiQuantum, a US-based startup aiming to build a fault-tolerant quantum computer using photonic qubits and standard semiconductor manufacturing processes. 

The deal would support PsiQuantum’s $750 million funding round and mark NVIDIA’s deeper push into quantum computing despite Huang’s earlier scepticism regarding the future of quantum. This move aligns with NVIDIA’s broader strategy to bridge quantum computing and AI, as demonstrated by its recent collaborations and infrastructure developments.

However, when AIM reached out to NVIDIA, the company declined to comment on the development.

Taiwan’s Supercomputing Leap

In Taiwan, NVIDIA is collaborating with local manufacturers and the National Centre for High-Performance Computing (NCHC) to advance quantum research. A new AI supercomputer, built by ASUS, will feature over 1,700 NVIDIA GPUs, including the latest Blackwell Ultra systems, interconnected with NVIDIA Quantum InfiniBand networking. This cutting-edge infrastructure supports projects in climate science, quantum research, and large language model (LLM) development.

A key focus is the development of sovereign AI applications. The system will power platforms like Taiwan AI RAP, enabling the rapid creation of culturally relevant AI tools. One flagship effort, the Trustworthy AI Dialogue Engine (TAIDE), is building Taiwanese LLMs for natural language processing, translation, and customer service, which is already impacting sectors like education and healthcare.

For climate research, the NCHC is using NVIDIA’s Earth-2 platform and AI models such as CorrDiff and GraphCast (Google DeepMind) to enhance weather forecasting and climate simulations. The supercomputer’s power will significantly accelerate training and inference workloads in this domain.

On the quantum front, researchers are using NVIDIA’s CUDA-Q and cuQuantum to drive breakthroughs. Projects like the Quantum Molecular Generator and cuTN-QSVM have enabled simulations with up to 784 qubits, pushing the limits of hybrid quantum-classical computing.

Enter Foxconn and Cadence

Cadence Design Systems recently unveiled the Millennium M2000 supercomputer, powered by NVIDIA’s Blackwell GPUs. The company claims the system delivers up to 80 times higher performance and 20 times greater energy efficiency than previous CPU-based platforms, significantly reducing simulation times across industries. 

The M2000 integrates NVIDIA HGX B200 systems and RTX PRO 6000 Server Edition GPUs with Cadence’s computational software and CUDA-X libraries, enabling complex simulations such as electronic design automation, system design, and molecular modelling. 

Notably, engineers can now complete chip-level power integrity simulations in a single day, compared to the two weeks needed with traditional CPU clusters. NVIDIA plans to utilise 10 M2000 units to aid in developing next-generation chips and AI data-centre infrastructure.

In parallel, Foxconn, in collaboration with NVIDIA and the Taiwanese government, is constructing an AI factory supercomputer equipped with 10,000 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs. Managed by Foxconn’s subsidiary, Big Innovation Company, this facility aims to provide AI cloud computing resources to researchers and enterprises, accelerating AI development across sectors. 

The Taiwan National Science and Technology Council will invest in this supercomputer to support AI development and adoption across industries. TSMC plans to leverage this infrastructure to enhance its research and development capabilities.

Global Quantum-AI Collaborations

Beyond Taiwan, NVIDIA is advancing global initiatives to integrate quantum computing with AI. In Japan, the ABCI-Q supercomputer, developed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), is a significant step in this direction. 

ABCI-Q is powered by over 2,000 NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs across over 500 nodes, interconnected via NVIDIA Quantum-2 InfiniBand. This infrastructure supports high-fidelity quantum simulations and is integrated with NVIDIA’s open-source CUDA-Q platform, facilitating hybrid quantum-classical computing. 

ABCI-Q also incorporates diverse quantum processors, including Fujitsu’s superconducting qubit processor, QuEra Computing’s neutral atom quantum processor, and OptQC’s photonic processor. This integration enables hybrid quantum-GPU workloads across multiple qubit modalities, accelerating research in quantum error correction and application development. 

In addition to quantum advancements, NVIDIA is expanding its hardware portfolio by introducing the Grace CPU C1. This single-socket, high-performance server platform is optimised for edge, telco, storage, and cloud deployments and delivers up to twice the energy efficiency of traditional CPUs. 

The Grace CPU C1 is gaining traction among leading manufacturers, including Foxconn, Jabil, Lanner, MiTAC Computing, Supermicro, and Quanta Cloud Technology, which are developing systems that leverage its capabilities.

Not just this, Foxconn, in collaboration with NVIDIA, is also advancing innovative hospital solutions to address the global nursing shortage. Their Nurabot, a collaborative nursing robot, assists with tasks like transporting medication, reducing nurses’ workload by up to 30%. 

Utilising NVIDIA’s AI and digital twin technologies, Foxconn is transforming healthcare delivery in Taiwan.

Strategic investments and collaborations underscore the company’s commitment to advancing quantum computing and AI. By developing robust infrastructure and supporting research initiatives, NVIDIA aims to accelerate breakthroughs in various scientific and industrial domains.

The post Jensen Huang Flips Back on Quantum appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

For decades, satellite launch services in India and worldwide have been dominated by a handful of government-run agencies. Most of global orbital launches have reportedly been funnelled through one country and executed by one company, leading to an increasingly centralised space industry.

As global space ambitions and geopolitical dynamics shift, India’s need for indigenous, affordable, and reusable launch technology is more urgent than ever. Against this backdrop, the space launch market has bifurcated into three categories—small-lift rockets for tiny payloads, medium-lift and heavy-lift vehicles reserved for the biggest, costliest missions. 

Medium-lift rockets—capable of launching four to 25 tonnes—represent the ideal middle ground for commercial and government payloads alike, running a significant part of the market. Seizing this opportunity is Bengaluru-based startup EtherealX, whose advancements could drastically reduce launch costs, decentralise orbital access, and place India at the forefront of this sector in space, filling a gap even ISRO has yet to address fully.

Ethereal Exploration Guild (EtherealX) claims its upcoming rocket, Razor Crest, will be the world’s first fully reusable medium-lift launch vehicle. It aims to disrupt the global satellite launch industry by recovering not only the booster but also the upper stage of a rocket, something no one has done before. 

In an interview with AIM, Manu J Nair, co-founder and CEO of EtherealX, explained how this isn’t just a technical milestone; it’s a strategic necessity. 

The Not-So-Small Case for Medium-Lift

In recent years, global attention has focused mainly on small satellite launchers, with companies like Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos from India leading the charge. EtherealX, however, is aiming much higher.

“The market that we are going for is the medium lift segment,” Nair said. “That’s where SpaceX is operating, and that’s what we’re looking at.”

Nair pointed out that ISRO’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) rocket, with an eight-tonne capacity, “was on the lower payload capacity side of a medium-lift rocket”. EtherealX sees a wide-open market opportunity here, especially since most competitors either lack rocket reusability altogether or are only able to recover the booster stage.

“When you look at the Falcon 9, they’re recovering the booster stage. In our case, we’re also bringing the upper stage back,” he added.

Why Waste the Burning Heat?

Bringing back the upper stage is a feat that has eluded even the likes of SpaceX. “The reason why it has never been done before was one fundamental issue, which was the re-entry heat,” Nair said. While others used heat shields, EtherealX chose an unconventional route.

“We thought, why fight the re-entry heat when we can redirect and utilise it in a different way to run our engines?” he said. The company has developed a new rocket feed cycle that does just that.

The result is a cost structure that could undercut industry giants. “We can operate anywhere between $340-$2,000 per kg, which is one-eighth of what SpaceX is currently doing, one-twenty-first of the global launch price average,” Nair explained.

From Bengaluru to Orbit

Though firmly grounded in India, EtherealX has its sights set globally. “We’ve signed $110 million worth of launch MoUs from global aggregators for launches starting in 2027,” Nair pointed out. Some of these have been from Europe, Japan, and more, creating what Nair noted is “a very healthy mix”.

The company was also among the few Indian startups selected for the Indo-US Space and Defence Collaboration Programme, and is planning collaborations across the private and government sectors. Nair is a vocal advocate for “multi-polarising” launch infrastructure. “What better place than India?” he asked, noting the country’s geographical and geopolitical advantages.

He further pointed out that Europe is geographically handicapped because it can only do polar launches. So, for Leo missions, they won’t launch with China or Russia. Instead, they look forward to partnering with India.

First Rockets, Then Everything Else

EtherealX’s first launch is slated for March 2027. However, before that, a series of key tests are planned, including “cluster firing of upper stage engines” and “a hop test towards the end of next year”. Notably, the company’s most powerful, ‘Stallion’, a 1.2 meganewton reusable semi-cryogenic engine, is already out for manufacturing.

Despite operating in a high-risk industry, Nair sees India’s private space sector maturing rapidly. “The only difference right now between having that SpaceX-like company and us being that SpaceX-like company is going to be that journey towards having that kind of access to capital,” he said.

Nevertheless, he believes that capital is flowing into deep tech like never before, and not just from investors. “For the first time in our country’s history, we have a very sector-focused government venture fund,” he highlighted. 

Nair believes Bengaluru, with its engineering talent and ecosystem, is poised to become a global space hub. Former ISRO chairman S. Somanath also previously acknowledged Bengaluru’s leadership in space innovation at the Invest Karnataka 2025 event. 

“There are small satellite-building companies, but I hope to see a four-tonne or six-tonne class communication satellite built by an Indian company and launched from Bengaluru,” he said.

Making, Reusing, In India

Even as it eyes global expansion, EtherealX remains committed to the ‘Make in India’ initiative. “Most of our work is done indigenously,” Nair said. However, certain high-precision, large-volume manufacturing tasks are still outsourced, though the startup plans to bring these processes in-house over time.

Thanks to India’s decades-old space heritage, component sourcing has been simplified. “You have a laid-out distribution network of vendors,” Nair said. “You don’t have to interact with a foreign entity.”

Ultimately, Nair stressed that the difference between success and failure for a rocket startup comes down to some fundamental aspects. He pointed out that if the launch vehicle doesn’t have the right capacity to operate with the correct average payload over every single trip, the chances of success may drop. 

Hence, he further stressed the importance of research and development in each company. So, with one foot in Bengaluru and another reaching for the orbit, EtherealX is hoping to rebuild the global launch industry, one reusable stage at a time.

The post This Bengaluru Startup is Building the World’s First Fully Reusable Medium-Lift Rocket appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

India’s semiconductor journey, once seen as a distant ambition, is now picking up serious momentum. With strategic policy support, rising domestic demand, and global supply chain realignments, the country is positioning itself as an emerging hub in the global chipmaking ecosystem. 

From chip design innovations in academic institutions to infrastructure investments by global majors, the chip manufacturing ecosystem is taking shape. It promises to power everything from smartphones and electric vehicles to defence systems and next-gen computing. 

Against this backdrop, the announcement of a sixth semiconductor unit under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) aims to bolster the country’s strategic capabilities in electronics manufacturing. It signals progress and a deeper commitment to self-reliance in this critical technology sector.

The Union cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the establishment of a new semiconductor manufacturing unit in Uttar Pradesh. The plant, to be located near Jewar airport in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) area, will be developed through a joint venture between HCL and Foxconn.

India's 6th semiconductor unit approved!
Jewar, Uttar Pradesh

To manufacture display driver chips
Capacity: 20,000 wafers/ month; 36 million chips/ month#CabinetDecision pic.twitter.com/wLK0CnceLl

— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) May 14, 2025

The new facility will produce display driver chips for mobile phones, laptops, PCs, automobiles and other display-based devices. 

The plant is expected to handle 20,000 wafers monthly and deliver an output capacity of 36 million units per month, as per the announcement. The venture will also attract an investment of ₹3,700 crore. 

The ISM continues to gain momentum, aligning with the government’s vision of a self-reliant manufacturing or Atmanirbhar Bharat. It also adds to the recent announcement that Renesas Electronics will build two design facilities in Noida and Bengaluru, aiming to develop end-to-end 3-nanometer chips.

Ashok Chandak, president of IESA and SEMI India, said, “This isn’t just about building infrastructure, it reflects India’s growing maturity in semiconductor manufacturing, with trusted partners, strategic intent, and industrial scale.” 

Chandak also highlighted that the collaboration would position India as a global hub for semiconductor Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly And Test (OSAT) operations, aligning with the vision of “Make in India, Make for the World.”

The Five That Came Before

Before the latest project took centre stage, five major semiconductor initiatives had already laid the groundwork for India’s ambitions in the sector.

Among them is Tata Electronics’ semiconductor fabrication facility in Dholera, Gujarat, a ₹91,000 crore endeavour developed in partnership with Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC). The plant is designed to produce up to 50,000 wafers per month and is projected to create over 20,000 skilled jobs. Additionally, it will implement equipment made by KASTECH Equipments. 

Micron Technology is setting up an assembly, testing, marking, and packaging (ATMP) unit in Sanand, Gujarat. The ₹22,500 crore investment is expected to generate 5,000 direct and 15,000 indirect jobs. 

In the same region, CG Power and Industrial Solutions, in partnership with Renesas Electronics and Stars Microelectronics, is building an OSAT plant capable of producing 15 million chips daily for industries like automotive, consumer electronics, and 5G.

Kaynes Technology’s ₹3,300 crore unit in Sanand will produce six million chips daily, catering to markets such as industrial automation, electric vehicles, telecom, and mobile devices. 

Rounding out the five is Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test (TSAT), which is constructing a ₹27,000 crore facility in Jagiroad, Assam. Scheduled to become operational in 2025, the plant will drive industrialisation in India’s North Eastern Region.

With these new fabs and existing ones exploring EMS components and products, Tata Electronics is building the foundations of India’s semiconductor revolution. Utpal Shah, SVP for strategy and business development at Tata Electronics, also emphasised this during the Nano Electronics Roadshow in Bengaluru this year.

Why Uttar Pradesh?

Jewar’s selection is strategic, given its proximity to the upcoming Noida International Airport, which will enhance global logistics. The YEIDA region offers robust infrastructure, including expressways and industrial zones, making it conducive to high-tech manufacturing.

Uttar Pradesh’s Electronics Manufacturing Policy 2020 further incentivises such investments by offering benefits like interest subsidies, stamp duty exemptions and fiscal incentives. These measures aim to position the state as a hub for electronics manufacturing.

The HCL-Foxconn plant is expected to bolster the local economy, generate employment, and reduce India’s reliance on imported semiconductor components. This initiative aligns with the national objective of achieving self-reliance in critical technology sectors.

Additionally, across the country, academic institutions and startups are also contributing to semiconductor design. Students and entrepreneurs from 270 institutions and 70 startups are engaged in advanced technology development, with 20 products taped out by SCL Mohali.

As domestic manufacturing scales up, international ecosystem partners such as Applied Materials, Lam Research, Merck, Linde, Air Liquide and Inox have expanded operations in India to support growth in this sector.

The Builders

HCL brings decades of hardware development expertise, while Foxconn is known globally for its electronics manufacturing. The two companies had also partnered in January 2024, marking Foxconn’s first step into setting up OSAT operations in India. The company had committed to investing significantly in the country to strengthen its domestic manufacturing capabilities, serving clients like Apple and Xiaomi.

Around the same time, Foxconn expressed its eagerness to collaborate with HCL to establish OSAT operations in India, especially in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The focus was to build an ecosystem and enhance supply chain resilience for the domestic industry. The company also planned to use its “build-operate-localise” model to support local communities.

Making that a reality, the Cabinet’s decision now comes amid increasing global and domestic demand for semiconductors, Trump tariff implications and the rapid expansion of sectors including power electronics, defence, medical devices and consumer electronics.

With this sixth unit, the country is moving forward to develop the strategically vital semiconductor plants and hence, accelerate its position on the global semiconductor scale.

[Note: The earlier version of the infographic on six semiconductor units mentioned it as semiconductor Fabs. This has been corrected.]

The post Why India’s Sixth Semiconductor Unit in UP Holds the Key Now appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

The criticality of semiconductor self-reliance cannot be demonstrated better than the ongoing tariff wars between the United States, China, and India. Over the last decade, the Indian government has been pushing for the ‘Make in India’ initiative to reduce dependence on Taiwan, South Korea, and China. 

Yet, so far, nothing like an NVIDIA or Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has been built in India. Nonetheless, companies like Larsen & Toubro, L&T Semiconductor Technologies (LTSCT), Tata Electronics, Vedanta Semiconductors and Reliance are in the process of establishing fab facilities across the country. 

Moving away from its identity as a services company, L&T launched a wholly owned subsidiary, LTSCT, in 2023. Since then, it has set its sights on becoming India’s first major semiconductor product company. 

Not a manufacturer-for-hire or a design house, but a full-fledged chipmaker—one that could eventually rival the likes of NVIDIA and STMicroelectronics from the West and MediaTek from Taiwan. 

Sandeep Kumar, CEO of LTSCT, is spearheading this ambitious vision. LTSCT formally started operations in November 2023, coinciding with the day Kumar joined L&T. However, this wasn’t a decision made on a whim.

In an exclusive interaction with AIM, Kumar revealed that he had been nurturing the idea since late 2020, driven by the belief that India must stop being the back office of the global semiconductor industry and start owning its chip IP.

“I had an overall business plan and strategy to build something meaningful in India and presented it to L&T, other large business houses, and the ministry,” Kumar recalled. “Most were only interested in fabs, but my idea was different—India needs to build product companies, not just factories.”

Eventually, it was L&T that recognised his vision and gave a green signal to the initiative.

Why Products Over Fabs?

LTSCT’s approach is simple, pragmatic, and rooted in the economics of semiconductors. It aims to generate revenue of $1 billion in the next four to five years and set up a fab within that timeframe.

According to the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA), India’s semiconductor market is projected to grow at a 13% CAGR, expanding from ₹4,50,164 crore ($52 billion) in 2024 to ₹8,95,134 crore ($103.4 billion) by 2030.

“In the semiconductor world, if you look at the value of product companies versus fabs and manufacturing, the ratio is about 70:30,” he said. “So, to me, bringing semiconductors to India means bringing Indian semiconductor products to market—not just making chips here that belong to someone else.”

For now, LTSCT is strategically betting on the fabless model, where the focus is on chip design and IP, while the manufacturing is outsourced. Notably, giants like NVIDIA and Qualcomm follow this strategy, and Kumar believes that with this approach, India is uniquely positioned to succeed.

“For over 30 years, Indian engineers have been designing chips for global companies. The talent pool exists. What we lacked was capital and a vision to build something of our own,” he said.

Now, with ₹830 crore in initial capital from L&T and access to top talent and customers, the foundation is in place. LTSCT is not targeting the Indian market alone. In fact, Kumar is quite clear that an India-first approach wouldn’t work in semiconductors—at least not yet.

Indian startups often focus only on the Indian market, which is neither large nor advanced enough. As a result, they lose out to international players.

Instead, LTSCT is developing a diverse range of chips—MEMS sensors, power ICs, analogue mixed-signal, RF products, and even silicon carbide and gallium nitride-based components—targeting mobility, industrial, energy, and telecom sectors globally.

The company already has a pipeline of over 50 customers, both Indian and international, many of whom are marquee names. “These are not startups,” Kumar emphasised. “They are premier, global customers.”

Sectors involving mobile handsets, IT, telecommunications, consumer electronics, automotive, aerospace, and defence are expected to drive steady growth. Notably, mobile handsets, IT, and industrial applications contribute nearly 70% of the industry’s revenue and are projected to remain the main drivers of this expansion.

This comes at time when union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that India’s first chip design centres dedicated to developing end-to-end 3 nanometer chips will be built in Noida and Bengaluru. The facilities, set up by the India unit of Japanese semiconductor manufacturer Renesas Electronics, will offer products across automotive, industrial, infrastructure, and IoT sectors.

From Fabless to Fabs—But on Their Terms

This is when things become interesting. While the company’s focus is fabless for now, LTSCT eventually plans to establish its own fabs. However, unlike others racing to build foundries first, Kumar wants the demand to drive the need.

“Our thinking is different from Tata’s approach. They’re building the fab first, then trying to find customers to fill it,” he said. “We’re building products first. Once we hit $1 billion in revenue, which should take about five to six years, we’ll need a fab to keep up with production.”

The rationale is purely economic. An empty fab kills the margins. “If it’s 50% empty, your product cost doubles. So, we want to build a fab only when we have enough demand to fill it,” he said.

If all goes according to plan, fab construction could begin in the fourth year, allowing enough lead time for operations to start by the seventh.

Kumar said the choice of fabrication geometry—whether 7 nm or 55 nm—will depend on the products being manufactured. Right now, the focus seems to be on a range between 28 nm and 55 nm on the higher end, and potentially 7 nm on the lower end. The exact details will become clearer in a few years.

A Product Company from India, at Last

Regarding competition with China, Kumar remains clear-eyed. “A fab is just a factory,” he said. “The real competition is in the product.”

To explain, he offered an analogy: “A Toyota car factory doesn’t compete with a BYD factory. Toyota competes with BYD in the market. Similarly, we’re not competing with SMIC’s or China’s fabs—we’re competing with their chip products.”

For LTSCT, the question isn’t where the chip is made—it’s whether the chip is good enough to compete globally. India has long played a supporting role in the global chip industry, providing the talent but never owning the technology. That’s what LTSCT aims to change.

“There are global product companies from every major region—Intel and NVIDIA from the US, STMicro and NXP from Europe, Renesas from Japan, MediaTek from Taiwan, and iSilicon from China, but none from India,” Kumar said. “That’s what we want to build.”

LTSCT is aiming to do what no Indian company has done before—build India’s own NVIDIA. Moreover, if things go according to plan, the next globally recognised semiconductor brand might just be ‘Made in India’.

The post L&T Semiconductor Aims to Be the NVIDIA India Never Had appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

As tensions between India and Pakistan reignite along the Line of Control (LoC), a new set of defence actors has taken flight. What the previous generations knew as the defence industry—defined by khaki uniforms, government public sector undertakings (PSUs), and bureaucratic tenders—is no longer the whole story. 

Today, India’s defence preparedness is shaped as much by engineers in Bengaluru or Hyderabad as by soldiers at the LoC. Private drone startups such as ideaForge, Garuda Aerospace, Asteria Aerospace, IG Drones, as well as companies like Scandron, are now integral to India’s frontline strategy. These are building and deploying unmanned aerial systems (UAS) that are not only confined to agriculture, solar, surveying, or disaster relief, but also for defence uses.

These firms are rapidly scaling operations and increasing production to deliver tactical and surveillance drones, responding to heightened demand from defence forces seeking advanced aerial capabilities. “We are the tool that collects data right now,” said Vishal Saxena, vice president at ideaForge, in an interview with AIM. “We are behind the scenes, not visual. That’s our job. Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems are typically that.”

Private Drones, Public Battles

Focused initially on civilian applications such as agriculture and infrastructure monitoring, these drone companies are now adapting their technologies for military use. This pivot reflects a broader trend where private tech firms are becoming integral to national security strategies, supplying equipment that was once exclusively the domain of state-run defence manufacturers.

Garuda Aerospace, once best known for its agricultural drones, has launched a line of dual-use platforms tailored for both civilian and paramilitary use. The company has openly discussed plans to ramp up production of surveillance drones capable of day-night operation in high-altitude zones. Founder Agnishwar Jayaprakash has spoken about India’s growing need for “tactical autonomy”, the strategic role that Indian startups can play, and the crucial role Garuda drones played in ‘Operation Sindoor’.

“Two thousand drones equipped with payload dropping mechanisms are ready to be delivered, and 2,000 more are in production at the Garuda manufacturing facility,” he told AIM.

Other startups like NewSpace Research and Technologies and Asteria Aerospace are developing more advanced systems, including swarming drones and autonomous AI-powered surveillance platforms. While still in development or early deployment, these innovations represent the future of battlefield tech—decentralised, fast, and difficult to detect or counter using traditional air defence methods.

A Surge in Defence Demand

In light of recent operations like India’s Operation Sindoor, the defence ministry has issued urgent requirements for a wide range of drone capabilities, from high-altitude ISR units to loitering munitions. For companies like Scandron, the ask is both specific and immediate.

“The Army has come up with a basic list of requirements. Some of those are readily met, some require fast-track development,” Arjun Naik, CEO of Scandron, told AIM. “Our drones fit those bills and have been modified to meet the terrain-specific requirements.”

Scandron, known for its logistics and support unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), is now scaling production from 300 to 400 units a month to between 800 and 2,000, depending on requirements by the defence. “We have expanded infrastructure and human resource capability,” Naik added.

ideaForge is experiencing a similar spike due to its capability, but also acknowledges the capacity gap. “While the user may want 10,000 drones tomorrow, can I manufacture that? The capability exists. The capacity, however, is a question mark,” Saxena said.

Indigenous Roots

Firms are investing heavily in research and development while chasing certification from the Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA), which governs drone systems intended for defence use. IG Drones has emerged as a vital player with its vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and first-person view FPV drone systems. These are engineered for high-endurance surveillance and real-time tactical reconnaissance in rugged terrains.

“Our drones are proudly ‘Made in India’ and contain no Chinese components,” Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya, founder and CEO of IG Drones, told AIM. “With over 75% indigenous capability, we are redefining sovereign tech at the border.”

IG Drones has also developed India’s first indigenous military drone simulator, offering low-risk, high-fidelity training, a key force multiplier as defence forces prepare to induct large fleets. Saxena also expressed that drones can be made in India. At the least, ideaForge is consciously making sure not to touch any components from “geographies of concern”. 

“Today, apart from those very critical systems which are not available in India, 97% of the components could come from India.” He added that they may not be the world’s best components, or only 60–70% of them may be. “There would still be about 20–30% of components that need more deliberation.”

Know Your #Military Drones
From real-time #reconnaissance to precision strikes, drones are reshaping modern warfare. For instance, our surveillance drones—such as the #NETRA and #SWITCH UAVs—are deployed globally for ISR, search & rescue, counterinsurgency, & border surveillance pic.twitter.com/4bLqwFoeOp

— ideaForge Technology Limited (@ideaforge_tech) May 12, 2025

For indigenous development, even Mughilan Thiru Ramasamy, co-founder and CEO at Skylark Drones, said, “We are working to figure out how our software capabilities, especially around surveillance, will be useful for the Indian defence.”

The Quiet Arms Race

According to reports, India employed Israeli Harop drones for precision strikes on Pakistani air defences, to which Pakistan claimed to have downed multiple units. 

This rapid militarisation isn’t just about meeting immediate defence needs. It’s triggering a larger shift in how India views innovation, sovereignty, and supply chains.

While the government’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ programmes have given startups a platform, it’s the private sector’s R&D push that’s now taking centre stage.

“There is a sweet spot emerging, tactical drones that do 50 to 100 km with distributed capability,” Saxena explained. “Instead of one MQ-9 Reaper doing 10 tasks, what if you had 100 drones doing one each? The mindset is shifting toward distributed platforms.”

Naik agreed to this, acknowledging that the R&D cost is huge. However, he pointed out that this is precisely the path taken by Israelis and Americans, which he hopes to follow. “We don’t quite have that level of technological advancement yet, but our drones cost a fraction of what the Israeli drones cost.”

Who Holds the Trigger?

This new defence-industrial ecosystem also introduces murky questions around accountability. While none of the featured companies currently supply armed drones, their technologies undeniably enable more precise and potentially lethal targeting.

“Our drones are not armed,” Saxena said. “Luckily, that dilemma isn’t there. But if we were making that tech, the question would be: should there even be a war? That’s a larger question than the tech itself.”

As Naik succinctly put it, “We’re building tools for security, not aggression. But once you sell to the military, you don’t control the mission.”

The New Defence Line

Despite the urgency, many companies warn that the lack of long-term procurement clarity hampers planning. They argue that the Indian drone sector needs both sustained demand and a robust domestic supply chain to truly scale.

“Drone startups are not just vendors, they are catalysts of national transformation,” Sanghapriya further said.

Meanwhile, Naik remarked, “India has about 900 drone companies, but fewer than 10 are serious players. The rest are traders. Now the real manufacturers will come to the forefront.”With ethical tightropes to walk, regulatory frameworks to solidify, and enemy radars to dodge, India’s drone startups are flying in uncharted airspace. And for now, they’re holding formation.

The post Indian-Made Drones are Watching the Line of Control from the Sky appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

The global race for semiconductors and AI dominance is no longer just about faster chips or smarter algorithms. It is now a high-stakes game shaped by geopolitics, energy concerns, and shifting supply chains. 

With tensions rising between major economies and data centres consuming increasing amounts of power, countries are rethinking where and how technology gets built. 

Manufacturing is moving closer to home, governments are investing heavily in digital infrastructure, and new players are stepping up to shape the next chapter of the tech industry.

In this shift of AI and silicon chips, US-based startup SiMa.ai is leaning heavily into what it sees as the future of global tech manufacturing in India. At the heart of this shift is the company’s simple internal motto–“Bharat All In.”

Founder and CEO Krishna Rangasayee believes the opportunity is ripe. “We really believe India could be the next market maker for the planet. And not only for local consumption, but for global consumption,” he told AIM in a recent exclusive interview.

Silicon Valley to Bengaluru

SiMa.ai builds machine learning systems-on-chip (MLSoC) that power AI at the edge. Unlike its peers, it is not made for the cloud or mobile. Instead, it targets use cases in robotics, industrial automation, aerospace, defence, and autonomous vehicles where edge AI with low energy requirements matters most.

“What differentiates us is that everything can be done on a single chip and software package. We still are the only SoC company out there,” Rangasayee said. But it’s not just about performance. “Power efficiency is key, and we are consistently 10 to 15x of anybody else.”

This edge-focused approach becomes more critical with the looming energy crisis accompanying the AI boom. He mentions that now data centres are consuming almost four to five per cent of the global energy consumption already, and by 2030, that will become eight to ten per cent. “Edge is a much bigger market than data centre, where we cannot imagine AI without power efficiency in everything we touch.”

Rangasayee sees India’s massive population (1.4 billion), growing tech infrastructure, and maturing private sector as a rare confluence of timing, talent, and technology. 

He also believes India is at the cusp of a generational change in mindset where the rising generation is willing to take more risks. 

In this emerging ecosystem, SiMa.ai is positioning itself not just as a vendor but as a deep partner. “We want to be primary participants and enablers in it. We want to partner with the very best, small companies, big companies, and do our very best to scale AI.”

He adds further to the geographical scene by mentioning how India and the US are tied at the hip.

No to China, Yes to Bharat

While China represents much of the global opportunity for chips and AI, SiMa.ai has consciously opted out. “It’s probably 40 per cent of the global opportunity market, but the reason we consciously chose against it is that it’s a difficult climate.”

Rangasayee explains that geopolitical uncertainty can be fatal for a startup like SiMa.ai. “What you cannot afford at a startup is to try something, put a lot of energy into it, and know that it goes nowhere.”

Instead, the company is doubling down on India. It currently has about 160 employees, half of whom are in India. Rangasayee is amazed at the country’s passion for winning not only within India but on the global stage. 

When asked about potential chip fabrication partners within the country, Rangasayee said they are open to partnerships. 

Still, the semiconductor challenge is long-term and could be much longer than most assume. He believes that India would serve itself well by partnering with semiconductor leaders globally to bring mainstream semiconductor knowledge expertise into the country.

Open Source, Not Closed Doors

One major driver of Rangasayee’s optimism about India is the potential for open-source AI to thrive there. He believes that IQ is not the monopoly of one nation and that humans are smart everywhere. 

Open-source software is rapidly catching up to the capabilities of closed-source software in today’s world, as demonstrated by the recent DeepSeek boom. SiMa.ai sees India’s AI future as inseparable from open-source innovation. “Closed-source will be better at monetising. But open-source will democratise AI—that’s a big shift,” said Rangasayee.

While proprietary models dominate today’s landscape, Rangasayee sees convergence. As for India, he believes that following this track, the government should urge the open-source of AI and that scaling can’t be done with just closed doors.

SiMa.ai has anchored its current success in strong global partnerships with TSMC, Arm, and Synopsys while also keeping an eye on India’s expanding manufacturing capacity. 

And yet, even with its eyes on global growth, SiMa.ai is not distracted from its immediate goal. “We’re a startup and we have to take the fight to the biggest, best companies in the world and be better than them every day to earn our customers’ consideration.”

The post This US Chip Company Moves With the Motto ‘Bharat All In’ appeared first on Analytics India Magazine.

Tata Electronics is quietly but deliberately building the foundations of a semiconductor revolution across India. From Tamil Nadu to Assam, the company is laying down factories, foundries, and partnerships as it positions itself as a major player in the country’s chip-making ambitions.

In a sector long dominated by foreign players and marked by global supply disruptions, Tata’s push is seen as a critical step in India’s drive to reduce dependence on imported chips and accelerate the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).

This goes beyond with increasing numbers of national facilities, from precision manufacturing hubs in southern India to upcoming semiconductor units in the northeast and west. This expansion also comes as India faces rising pressure due to global supply chain disruptions and shifting geopolitical alignments. 

It All Began in Tamil Nadu

The journey started in Tamil Nadu, where Tata Electronics has made significant investments in Hosur and Chengalpattu. The plants in Hosur are one of the earliest and most visible, specialise in electronics manufacturing services (EMS), producing high-precision components and establishing Tata’s expertise in clean-room manufacturing.

The plants here have garnered attention for their workforce policies, especially their emphasis on female employment. It’s not just about machinery and silicon; it’s also about reshaping local employment patterns for women in a traditionally underrepresented sector.

Tata also has a keen interest in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu’s neighbouring state. In Kolar’s Narasapura, the Tata Electronics Systems Solutions (TESS) unit furthers the group’s ambitions in integrated electronics systems and component manufacturing. Moreover, corporate offices in Bengaluru, which house R&D and support functions, add to the backend strength.

Silicon Dreams in Gujarat and Assam

Tata’s southern base is only one part of the larger picture. The company’s announcement of a semiconductor fabrication plant in Gujarat’s Dholera marks its entry into the core of chip manufacturing—the fab units. These are complex, capital-intensive, and essential to national security, making Tata’s commitment here a significant strategic move.

The Dholera chip plant, built in collaboration with Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC) and Himax Technologies, US-based Synopsys, and Japan’s Tokyo Electron Limited (TEL), brings together global expertise. 

It supports technology transfer, equipment supply, workforce training, and chip design. The project aims to manufacture AI-enabled chips and display semiconductors, strengthening India’s position in the global semiconductor ecosystem.

Simultaneously, Tata Electronics plans a semiconductor assembly and test facility in Jagiroad, Assam, with an investment outlay of ₹27,000 crore. These facilities are crucial in the chipmaking process, where silicon wafers are tested, packaged, and prepared for real-world use.

These eastern and western expansions not only balance Tata’s geographic footprint but also reflect broader governmental pushes to spread industrial development across India.

In addition, Tata has established offices across major Indian metros, such as Mumbai and Bengaluru, serving as nodal points in what appears to resemble a decentralised network with smaller operational hubs. States like Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are also receiving investments from other giants like Reliance.

Partnerships Signal Bigger Goals

While the infrastructure rollout is substantial, the group’s semiconductor ambition isn’t unfolding in isolation. For example, through the Synopsys partnership, Tata aims to enable AI-powered factory automation at its upcoming fab. It underscores the blend of traditional manufacturing expertise with automation and AI.

The company also made headlines for starting chip exports, marking a significant milestone for a nation that has long imported nearly all its semiconductor requirements. The first outbound shipments, though modest, symbolise a new phase in India’s industrial trajectory.

Reports have also emerged of a supply partnership with Tesla for semiconductor chips, indicating growing relevance in international supply chains.

Leadership changes reinforce this momentum. The appointment of KC Ang, a veteran in semiconductor manufacturing, to lead the group’s chip efforts brings credibility and operational experience to what is still a developing domestic industry.

Moreover, KASTECH Equipments, a subsidiary of KAS Group, is set to provide equipment to build chips in the fab in Dholera. In an earlier discussion with AIM, MD Manjunath Jyothinagara highlighted the importance of robust equipment management in India’s semiconductor revolution.

The Quiet Race is On

The timing of Tata Electronics’ moves is no coincidence. India’s semiconductor policy, launched in 2021, is designed to offer capital support and incentives to players willing to set up chipmaking operations domestically. Geopolitical friction involving Taiwan and China, along with supply bottlenecks in the post-pandemic era, has made semiconductor self-reliance a global concern.

By entering early and spreading risk across multiple states, Tata is positioning itself as a backbone for India’s chip ecosystem. Its facilities and offices are committed to end-to-end capabilities in electronics and chip manufacturing. 

India has long aspired to be a serious player in the semiconductor value chain. With Tata Electronics stepping up, that aspiration is beginning to take shape. It’s still early, and the road to a full-fledged chip ecosystem is long and costly. But if location is strategy, Tata’s blueprint is already well underway.

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