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{{Short description|Governmental research institute in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Semi-Conductor Laboratory
| former_name =
| logo = Semi-Conductor Laboratory.svg
| logo_size = 120px
| industry = [[Semiconductors]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|1976}} (as Semiconductor Complex Limited)
| hq_location = [[Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
| hq_location_country =
| owner = [[Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology]], [[Government of India]]
| website = https://www.scl.gov.in/
}}
[[File:Semi-Conductor Laboratory - Sector 72 - SAS Nagar 2016-08-07 8888.JPG|thumb|Semi-Conductor Laboratory entrance, sector 72, SAS Nagar.]]
The '''Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL)''', [[Mohali]] is a research institute under the [[Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology]], [[Government of India]]. SCL was formerly under the [[Department of Space]]. SCL's aims include [[research and development]] (R&D) in the field of [[semiconductor]] technology.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.scl.gov.in/ |title = Semi-Conductor Laboratory}}</ref> Semiconductors manufactured by SCL have been used in the [[Mars Orbiter Mission]].<ref name=":9" /> The Indian Government is attempting to modernize SCL and upgrade its facilities.<ref name=":8" />

== History ==
The Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL) is a [[Public sector undertakings in India|public sector undertaking]] (PSU) of the [[Government of India]], and was founded as the Semiconductor Complex Limited, in [[Mohali]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Roy |first=Vijay C. |date=7 October 2022 |title=When India's dream of becoming semiconductor powerhouse was shattered |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/when-indias-dream-of-becoming-semiconductor-powerhouse-was-shattered-439130 |access-date=5 June 2023 |website=The Tribune}}</ref> SCL was formed to develop India's ambitions for establishing a semiconductor manufacturing industry.<ref name=":2" /> In 1976, the [[Union Council of Ministers|Cabinet of India]] approved the formation of SCL, and the company began production in 1984.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Zarabi |first=Siddharth |date=2022-09-13 |title=How Maharashtra lost out, once again, in its bid to become a semiconductor manufacturing hub |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/story/how-maharashtra-lost-out-once-again-in-its-bid-to-become-a-semiconductor-manufacturing-hub-347124-2022-09-13 |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=Business Today |language=en}}</ref> At first, [[Navi Mumbai]] was the leading contender for where SCL would be established, however, then [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Indira Gandhi]] eventually selected Mohali as the location for where SCL would be set up.<ref name=":2" /> Then [[List of chief ministers of Punjab (India)|Chief Minister of Punjab]], [[Zail Singh]] offered 51-[[Acre|acres]] of land to SCL for a token one [[Indian rupee|rupee]] cost.<ref name=":1" /> When SCL initially began production in 1984, the company had entered into a technical collaboration with [[American Microsystems]] and started the production of 5 micron [[CMOS|complementary metal-oxide semiconductor]] (CMOS) technology.<ref name=":4" />

In 1989, a fire broke out and destroyed SCL's facility in Mohali.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Seema |date=2010-03-17 |title=Why a made-in-India chip remains chimeric |url=https://www.livemint.com/Home-Page/P8hJk0uMYmajN0tFph692K/Why-a-madeinIndia-chip-remains-chimeric.html |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=Mint |language=en}}</ref> The facility restarted production in 1997, however, the fire halted the growth of India's semiconductor industry.<ref name=":2" /> As of 2022, the cause of the fire is a mystery, including whether the fire was an accident or caused intentionally.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> SCL's revenues in 1999-2000 were about $14 million, with a profit of roughly $400,000.<ref name=":5">{{cite web | url=https://www.eetimes.com/indian-fabs-future-stalled-by-government-foot-dragging-2/ | title=Indian fab's future stalled by government foot-dragging | date=4 December 2000 }}</ref>

SCL came under the administrative control of the [[Department of Space]] (DoS) in March 2005, and has since undergone organisational restructuring to become focused on research and development. The society was registered in November 2005. In 2006, Semiconductor Complex Limited was renamed to the Semi-Conductor Laboratory.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Keshri |first=Gyanendra |date=2023-06-29 |title=DH Deciphers {{!}} Decoding India's quest for semiconductor manufacturing |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/business/technology/dh-deciphers-decoding-india-s-quest-for-semiconductor-manufacturing-1232460.html |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref> As of 2023, SCL is under the administrative control of the [[Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology]] (MeitY).<ref name=":7" />

== Facility and production ==
SCL is India's only [[Integrated device manufacturer|integrated device manufacturing]] facility.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=CT Bureau |date=2023-02-11 |title=SCL modernization to play key role in advancing semiconductor aspirations |url=https://www.communicationstoday.co.in/scl-modernization-to-play-key-role-in-advancing-semiconductor-aspirations/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Communications Today |language=en-US}}</ref> Over 200 of types of CMOS devices can be made by SCL's [[wafer fabrication]] facilities.<ref name=":7" />

SCL's chips have been used in Mangalyaan, India's [[Mars Orbiter Mission]].<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Lele |first=Sourabh |date=12 May 2023 |title=Govt to spend $1.2 billion on modernising semiconductor lab in Mohali |url=https://www.business-standard.com/technology/tech-news/govt-to-spend-1-2-billion-on-modernising-semiconductor-lab-in-mohali-123051200931_1.html |access-date=7 July 2023 |website=Business Standard}}</ref> [[IIT Madras|Indian Institute of Technology Madras]] uses SCL as a primary [[Semiconductor fabrication plant|foundry]] to tapeout [[SHAKTI (microprocessor)|SHAKTI]] processors using its 180 nm technology process.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet India's Atmanirbhar Microprocessor chip 'Moushik', meant for IoT devices |url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/meet-indias-atmanirbhar-microprocessor-chip-moushik-meant-for-iot-devices-329966 |access-date=2020-09-25 |website=WION |date=24 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In 2021, SCL and the [[IIT Bombay|Indian Institute of Technology Bombay]] (IIT Bombay) invented India's first indigenous semiconductor memory technology.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2021-08-21 |title=IIT-Bombay researchers develop first-ever indigenous semiconductor memory technology |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/iitbombay-researchers-develop-first-ever-indigenous-semiconductor-memory-technology-101629564669919.html |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> SCL and IIT Bombay demonstrating a CMOS-[[180 nm process|180nm]]-based [[8-bit computing|8-bit]] memory technology, that can also be adopted for production.<ref name=":6" />

=== Bharat Semiconductor Research Centre ===
On October 20, 2023, the [[Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology]] stated that the Bharat Semiconductor Research Centre (BSRC) would be established starting in 2024, working with professionals from the industry and academic institutions. [[Rajeev Chandrasekhar|Rajeev Chandrashekhar]] states that BSRC will function as the Indian counterpart of the MIT Microelectronics Laboratory, Alan G. MacDiarmid NanoTech Institute, [[Industrial Technology Research Institute]], and [[IMEC]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mishra |first=Ashutosh |date=20 October 2023 |title=Govt aims to setup the Bharat Semiconductor Research Centre in 2024 |url=https://www.business-standard.com/industry/news/govt-aims-to-setup-the-bharat-semiconductor-research-centre-in-2024-123102000953_1.html |access-date=27 September 2024 |work=Business Standard}}</ref> The Bharat Semiconductor Research Centre will be located at [[IIT Madras]]. The center will be established initially as an institution co-located with Semi-Conductor Laboratory, with the potential to split off into a stand-alone semiconductor research organization in the future.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-03-04 |title=Bharat Semiconductor Research Centre will be announced soon: Rajeev Chandrasekhar |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/bharat-semiconductor-research-centre-will-be-announced-soon-rajeev-chandrasekhar/article67912874.ece |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=BusinessLine |language=en}}</ref>

== Modernization efforts and fab upgrades ==

The Government of India is attempting to modernise SCL. In February 2023, the Indian government informed a Parliamentary Standing Committee that a [[joint venture]] with a commercial partner is being sought to modernise SCL's existing facility.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tribune News Service |date=9 February 2023 |title=Mohali semi-conductor lab to be modernised, says Parl panel |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/chandigarh/mohali-semi-conductor-lab-to-be-modernised-says-parl-panel-478324 |access-date=2 June 2023 |website=The Tribune}}</ref> In May 2023, the Indian government announced that it will invest $2 billion in SCL for the purposes of research and [[Prototype|prototyping]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Choudhury |first=Deepsekhar |date=2023-05-12 |title=Government announces $2 billion investment in Mohali's Semiconductor Laboratory |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/announcements/government-announces-2-billion-investment-in-mohalis-semiconductor-laboratory-10573941.html |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Moneycontrol |language=en}}</ref> The initial amount that Indian government was going to invest was approximately around $1.3 billion, however, the investment amount was later increased to $2 billion.<ref name=":0" /> MeitY also engaged [[Boston Consulting Group]], a [[Management consulting|management consultancy]] company, to develop a long-term strategy for SCL.<ref name=":7" />

In July 2023, [[Rajeev Chandrasekhar]], the Minister of State For Electronics and Information Technology, stated that the Indian Government has approved the modernisation of SCL.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |last=PTI |date=2023-07-21 |title=Government approves modernisation of Semiconductor Laboratory in Mohali |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/govt-approves-modernisation-of-semiconductor-laboratory-in-mohali/articleshow/102022757.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-07-24 |issn=0013-0389}}</ref> SCL's modernisation will be a [[Brownfield land|brownfield]] modernisation as a chip manufacturing unit.<ref name=":8" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (India)}}

{{coord missing|Punjab (India)}}

[[Category:Space programme of India]]
[[Category:Microtechnology]]
[[Category:2005 establishments in Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Research institutes established in 2005]]
[[Category:Research institutes in Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Mohali]]

Semi-Conductor Laboratory - Revision history

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