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The VIF under the S&T series organised a talk on “Compound Semiconductors Emerging Trends” by Ms. Suma Varughese, Distinguished Scientist & Director General, Micro Electronic Devices, Computational Systems & Cyber Systems (MED & CoS), DRDO on 19 September 2024. The meeting focused on the importance of compound semiconductors, and discussed its growth and potential applications in various industries, the need for strategic advantage, collaboration between academia, industry, and government support for defence technology innovation. She highlighted some of the technologies successfully developed and demonstrated by the Solid-State Physics Laboratory (SSPL), one of the pioneer R&D establishments in the MED cluster under the DRDO. Senior government officials, representatives from the industry, academia, and members from the strategic community participated in the discussion.

Compound semiconductors are different from silicon semiconductors and they do not serve the same purpose as the silicon semiconductors. Most of the compound semiconductors are made up from combinations of two or more elements from Group III and Group V of the periodic table of the elements such as Gallium Nitride (GaN). It is also possible to use different elements from within the same Group such as carbon (C) group IV of the periodic table consisting of silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), lead (Pb) and flerovium (Fl), to make compound semiconductors such as Silicon Carbide (SiC). While silicon semiconductor is made from a single element, and therefore is not a compound semiconductor.

In the past, compound semiconductors were not used in the widespread commercial applications as these crystals are more difficult to grow than silicon. The number of defects in the crystal is higher, and the cost of making the crystal is also higher. In recent years, however, the cost of manufacturing compound semiconductors has comedown though not the complexity. The special properties of these crystals have become more important for certain applications. Because of their fundamental material properties, compound semiconductors can do things that are not possible with silicon. In terms of application, compound semiconductors are being mainly used in consumer electronics followed by communications and defence & aerospace. The usage of compound semiconductor increased mainly because of 5G telecom infrastructure, RF electronics, power electronics, green energy, high speed data communications and optoelectronic applications.

The global compound semiconductor market size is expected to reach US $55.8 billion by 2027 at a CAGR of 6.6 percent. Driven by the demands of 5G telecom infrastructure and defence radar applications, the overall value of the GaN RF device market is projected to surge from US $2.6 billion in 2023 to over US $8.15 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 23.32 percent. The global SiC power device market size is expected to reach US $8.60 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 23.9 percent. Key drivers for SiC semiconductor market growth include growing demand for SiC power devices in the automotive industry; increasing the use of silicon in power electronics; and, increasing adaption of SiC semiconductor. While Indian discrete power semiconductor devices market is expected to reach from US $1.462 billion in 2024 to US $2.967 billion in 2030 at a CAGR of 12.5 percent.

Ensuring indigenous semiconductor technology secures the preeminent economic and national security concerns of the modern era. So, the research team at the SSPL successfully developed and transferred the GaAs and GaN MMIC technology to GAETEC Hyderabad, a pilot production compound Semiconductor Fab associated with DRDO. The SSPL /GAETEC have indigenously developed device application technology, including MMICs, power amplifiers, low noise amplifiers, and switches. It has successfully developed first of its kind front end chips and beam forming network on single chip in wide band C-Ku and Ku band, these are first of its kind and are not available off the shelf. They have also developed indigenous compound semiconductor laser diodes in various wavelengths. These technologies are closely guarded and denied technologies as they are essential for developing next generation strategic systems like AESA radar, EW systems, secure communication systems and RF seekers.

At SSPL, the focus is thus on holistic development of technology starting from material technology, device technology to limited production of products based on these technologies. SSPL is working towards making India’s defence self-reliant by developing frontend III-V semiconductor technologies required for making futuristic systems, which highlight the need for strategic advantage. However, the number of people in laboratories is decreasing, which is limiting their capabilities and hindering growth. Importantly, the financial controls need to be improved to prevent market flooding and ensure affordability of devices.

It was noted that economics of compound semiconductors require considering opportunity costs and potential subsidies in order to protect Indian industry. There is lack of economic strategist and professional marketing team on the research team. In this regard, relaxation of GFR rules, government financing for strategic projects, and building technical manpower are very important. While politics play a role in embargoing materials and devices, emphasizing the need for self-sufficiency in defence and strategic technologies. The government has made modifications to funding rules and pricing calculations to support innovation in defence technology. But the industry is experiencing delays due to endless trials and defence finance issues. There is a need for greater faith in domestic manufacturing and research capabilities.

Nevertheless, semiconductor is a critical area and the government is giving a lot of priority to set up a semiconductor ecosystem in the country under its semiconductor mission. It was recommended to consider including compound semiconductors in the semiconductor mission of the government. It was recommended to explore the opportunities and possibility of a Transfer of Technology (ToT) to Indian industries for the production of various technologies including compound semiconductors. The participants also recommended for the establishment of a venture capital fund by the government to support and nurture technologies with high risk and no immediate commercial value. It was suggested to include the strategic materials being imported in the PLI scheme. The participants stressed to subsidize Indian industries in the compound semiconductor sector to compete with international players. For further strengthening government, industry and academia cooperation, participants recommended to fund programmes to build technical manpower in universities and technical institutions. The importance of extending the retirement age of scientists to address manpower shortage was also highlighted.