Mindgrove Technologies: A Step Towards Indigenous IoT Chip Development

Mindgrove Technologies is making significant strides in the development of secure Internet of Things (IoT) chips. This achievement was acknowledged by Union Railways and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who emphasised that creating chipsets backed by India’s own intellectual property (IP) is essential for the nation’s progress towards a ‘Viksit Bharat’.

Support from Government Initiatives

The minister highlighted Mindgrove’s successful acquisition of funding from the government’s Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme. This scheme offers reimbursement of up to 50 per cent of qualifying expenses for Indian companies involved in chip design.

Statements by Minister Vaishnaw

On the platform X, Vaishnaw stated, “Bharat steps up efforts to be a product nation. Chipsets with our own IP is an important objective in this journey.” He elaborated on the semiconductor mission, explaining the DLI component aimed at motivating startups focused on chip innovation. Vaishnaw noted that, with the backing of the DLI Scheme and IIT-M expertise, Mindgrove Technologies has successfully manufactured secure IoT chips, targeting applications such as CCTV cameras, industry 4.0 advancements, and various other IoT devices.

High-Performance Indigenous Solutions

Vaishnaw pointed out that the high-performance microcontroller system-on-chip designed by Mindgrove will provide trusted indigenous solutions for critical sectors.

Mindgrove’s Journey and Achievements

Founded at IIT-Madras in 2021, Mindgrove Technologies introduced its first IoT chip in 2024, aimed at powering devices like smartwatches and home appliances. The government has been instrumental in supporting the company through the DLI scheme, which facilitated Rs 15 crore in funding for their latest “Vision SoC,” tailored for high-performance edge computing and vision processing functionalities.

National Semiconductor Design Movement

The push for indigenous semiconductor design is gathering pace on a national level. During his 79th Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that Made-in-India semiconductor chips would be available by the end of 2025. Recently, the Union Cabinet sanctioned four semiconductor projects totalling Rs 4,600 crore, with Odisha receiving two and Andhra Pradesh and Punjab each obtaining one. Consequently, India now boasts ten approved projects under the India Semiconductor Mission across six states.