Qualcomm Achieves 2nm Chip Tape-Out in India
Recently, Qualcomm announced that it has successfully completed the 2nm chip design "tape-out" through its R&D centers in Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad, marking a significant milestone in advanced semiconductor development in India. The company revealed that the new 2nm chip integrates tens of billions of transistors and combines both CPU and GPU capabilities, enabling high-performance computing for a wide range of AI-driven applications, from smart cameras to autonomous vehicles.
The achievement was showcased during a visit to Qualcomm's Bengaluru R&D facility by India's Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw. He noted that India is steadily emerging as a global hub for advanced semiconductor design, emphasizing that Qualcomm's progress reflects not only strong engineering execution but also the country's growing capabilities in chip design, tape-out, and validation. The development aligns closely with India's broader ambition to build a globally competitive semiconductor ecosystem.
For the electronics components industry, the successful 2nm tape-out signals deeper technical maturity in areas such as advanced node design implementation, verification flows, AI optimization, and system-level integration. Qualcomm highlighted that India has become one of its most influential engineering bases outside the United States, supported by more than two decades of sustained investment. The India teams contribute across wireless, computing, AI, and platform architecture programs that power billions of connected devices worldwide.
Srini Maddali, Senior Vice President of Engineering at Qualcomm India, stated that the milestone validates the technical strength of the local engineering teams, which collaborate closely with global architecture and product groups while maintaining international design and quality standards. The company's India R&D centers play a critical role in chip system design across multiple layers, particularly in AI acceleration and next-generation connectivity.
At the national level, India is accelerating its push to position itself as a semiconductor powerhouse through policy incentives and industry collaboration. The upcoming "Semicon India 2.0" mission is expected to focus on semiconductor design enablement, equipment and materials manufacturing, talent development, and advanced process technologies, including 7nm nodes.
In parallel with its technical progress, Qualcomm also announced on February 19 that it plans to invest US$150 million in India to support the local technology and AI startup ecosystem through its venture arm. The investment will target AI-driven startups in automotive, IoT, robotics, and mobile sectors. Since 2007, Qualcomm has backed more than 40 startups in India, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the region's innovation landscape and strengthening the country's position in the global semiconductor value chain.
