Lagatar24 Desk
Dhanbad: IIT (ISM) Dhanbad has brought pride to Jharkhand and India as its indigenously designed chip, APEEC-1, received national recognition at the prestigious Semicon India 2025 event held in New Delhi. The chip, developed under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Rajeev Kumar Ranjan from the Department of Electronics Engineering, highlights India’s growing strength in semiconductor design and research.
From Research to Recognition
The design process for APEEC-1 began in 2023, supported by ₹1.12 crore funding from the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY). Its showcase at Semicon India 2025 demonstrates how academic innovation is transforming into tangible technological breakthroughs. Dr. Ranjan noted that the project marks a small but significant step toward India’s vision of semiconductor self-reliance.
PM Modi’s Vision of a ‘Digital Diamond’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the event on September 2, calling chips the “digital diamonds of the 21st century” and reaffirming India’s commitment to becoming a global hub for semiconductor innovation. On the occasion, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also presented the country’s first indigenous 32-bit microprocessor ‘Vikram-32,’ designed by ISRO. Alongside, IIT Dhanbad’s APEEC-1 chip drew wide attention.
What is APEEC-1?
APEEC-1 is a low-power analog memristor emulator designed at the ChipIN Centre of the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), Mohali. It mimics the behavior of a biological synapse and enables advanced learning mechanisms like Spike Density Dependent Plasticity (SDDP). With operating speeds between 1–30 MHz, the chip is energy-efficient and well-suited for:
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Neuromorphic computing
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Spiking neural networks
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Edge AI devices
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Crossbar arrays
This makes it a strong candidate for real-time learning systems requiring fast and low-energy processing.
Global Recognition for Regional Institutes
The international event saw participation from over 350 exhibitors representing 33 countries, including CEOs, researchers, and startups from global tech companies. IIT Dhanbad’s recognition at this platform underscores the crucial role regional academic institutions can play in advancing India’s technological self-reliance.
