Bengaluru startup sets up Rs 3 crore semiconductor testing lab at IISc

BENGALURU: As India pushes to build a stronger domestic semiconductor industry, Bengaluru-based AGNIT Semiconductors has opened a new testing laboratory at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), aiming to speed up the development of specialised chips used in telecommunications and defence systems.The startup, incubated at IISc, has invested Rs 3 crore in the 350 sqft facility, which will focus on testing and validating Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based semiconductor components. Semiconductors are the tiny electronic components that power everything from smartphones and communication networks to satellites and military equipment.While silicon remains the most widely used material, GaN is increasingly being adopted for applications that require high power and high-frequency performance, such as radar systems, satellite communications and 5G infrastructure.AGNIT said the new laboratory would help it carry out critical testing in-house rather than relying on external facilities, reducing development timelines and improving quality assurance.The facility houses equipment capable of subjecting semiconductor components to extreme temperatures ranging from -60°C to 125°C to assess their reliability under harsh operating conditions. It also includes radio frequency testing systems and automated printed circuit board assembly equipment that will allow engineers to evaluate the performance of chip-based devices more quickly.According to the company, the laboratory will support testing of power amplifier boards and generate reliability data needed before products can be deployed commercially.“India’s semiconductor ambitions require not only chip design and fabrication capabilities but also robust indigenous validation and reliability ecosystems,” Hareesh Chandrasekar, co-founder and CEO, AGNIT, said.He said having dedicated testing infrastructure would help the company move faster from product development to commercial deployment while supporting the needs of telecom and defence customers. Until now, AGNIT had relied on shared facilities available at IISc. The dedicated laboratory is expected to bring testing operations closer to the company's design and manufacturing teams.The startup plans to further expand the facility to conduct advanced lifetime testing and qualification of military-grade components.