Karnataka's SFAL signs seven semiconductor partnerships at SEMICON India
Karnataka's Semiconductor Future Accelerator Lab signed seven partnerships at SEMICON India 2026, spanning research, EDA tools, skilling and commercialisation.
The Semiconductor Future Accelerator Lab (SFAL), a Karnataka government centre of excellence for fabless semiconductors, has signed seven strategic partnerships at SEMICON India 2026, widening the state's chip-design and manufacturing support network.
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge said the agreements are aimed at specific gaps across the product lifecycle, linking early-stage technology concepts with downstream manufacturing capacity and capital.
Under the arrangements, the Indian Institute of Science's Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (IISc CeNSE) will work on expanding technical capabilities, including research collaboration, prototyping and nanoelectronics. Design tool access will widen through Silvaco, which will offer specialised semiconductor design expertise and Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools.
To help startups move from validation to production, Kaynes Semicon has signed on to support commercialisation, while FourFront will back innovation in automotive and power electronics.
Other partnerships address early-stage business needs. The WOWSEMI Foundation will focus on semiconductor skilling and talent development. PeachTree Elevate will provide startup mentoring and deeptech capability building, and Aarayaa Advisory will assist startups with investment readiness, fundraising and strategic growth.
Kharge recalled that SFAL was set up during his earlier tenure through a collaboration between the state government and industry, with the aim of bringing startups, research, technology and industry closer together.
He said the next phase, SFAL 2.0, will concentrate on building stronger pathways from research and design to validation, manufacturing, investment and global markets, while deepening Karnataka's semiconductor and chip-design ecosystem.