EPIC Foundation, India

In the mid-70s, the idea of building a computer in India seemed impossible. Looking back, I realise: the true legacy of those years was the belief we sparked—that India could dream audaciously, and build fearlessly. We didn’t have abundant resources. We didn’t have a global template to follow. What we had was the conviction that innovation could and should take root here. The early HCL years taught me that technology is never just about machines. It’s about mindset. Every line of code, every circuit board was less about products and more about proving that India could create, not just consume. Today, as the nation steps into semiconductors, quantum, and electronics manufacturing, that same spirit must guide us. The lesson remains timeless: real innovation is born when we decide to build, not wait. #AjaiChowdhry #JustAspire #HCL #Semiconductors #Quantum #Manufacturing

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a bold, long-awaited step has been taken. With the implementation of the four consolidated labour codes, the Government of India has replaced 29 outdated laws, many of which were written during British rule, with a future-ready, transparent, and worker-first framework. Yes, there will be debate, and that is healthy in a democracy. But staying trapped in fragmented colonial regulation was never an option for a country aiming to lead the global economy. This reform strengthens every stakeholder in the system. It gives workers greater rights, safety, and legal clarity, and offers businesses simpler processes and the freedom to grow. It provides investors with stability and a modern policy environment, while giving India the confidence to build systems designed by and for its own people. This is a landmark moment in India’s journey toward economic self-definition and global competitiveness. Narendra Modi Ashwini Vaishnaw Abhay Karandikar Jitin Prasada Piyush Goyal S Krishnan Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Amitesh Kumar Sinha Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India #AjaiChowdhry #JustAspire #LabourLaw #EPICFoundation #Democracy #GlobalEconomy

Ever since the Modi government put electronics and semiconductors at the heart of India’s growth agenda, the industry has been experiencing a scale and seriousness we had long hoped for. For the first time, we are not just talking about potential; we are seeing decisive action, investment, and long-term vision coming together. This shift is significant. For years, we operated without meaningful government backing, and post-WTO, our sector was nearly wiped out. But the last decade has reversed that trajectory. With targeted PLI schemes across multiple segments, India has scaled up rapidly and regained global credibility. But the next leap is critical. India now needs to move beyond EMS and position itself as a full-fledged product nation. Like Taiwan, our EMS companies must invest in R&D, evolve into ODMs, and eventually create strong Indian OEM brands. That’s where real value addition lies, in deeper local supply chains, design capabilities, and homegrown IP. The new Component PLI scheme is a powerful enabler, and I recall the Hon. Minister’s clear message during the launch- “Participants must invest in R&D to build long-term IP.” JV structures can accelerate learning, but they can’t replace the need to build our own IP in parallel. That’s what will strengthen India’s long-term competitiveness. In semiconductors, the government has made strong early moves by setting up fabs, ATMP units, and launching a solid Design-Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme that’s already supporting promising chip-design startups. The next step is scale; we need many more fabless design companies, including those building fabs, so that India’s fabs ultimately produce Indian-designed chips. MeitY’s early investment in RISC-V laid the foundation, and now is the time to expand that work. Designing and owning our own chips will deepen the value chain and sharply reduce future royalty outflows. The government has created an enabling ecosystem like never before. Now, it’s the industry’s turn to lead from the front by committing to IP creation, deeper R&D, and globally competitive product innovation. That is the path to building a true Product Nation and ensuring India’s technology sovereignty for the future. Narendra Modi Ashwini Vaishnaw The Quantum Insider Abhay Karandikar Jitin Prasada Piyush Goyal S Krishnan Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Amitesh Kumar Sinha

A must-watch discussion with HCL co-founder Ajai Chowdhry, who shared an optimistic outlook on India's strategic pivot towards becoming a true "Product Nation." He highlighted several key positive government actions that are fundamentally changing our technological landscape: *A Shift to 'Design in India'*: Chowdhry notes the current government is the first to truly recognize design as an essential element, moving beyond assembly-only incentives. This is a major change, especially with the 'Design in India' scheme under the India Semiconductor Mission. *Historic RDI Fund*: He praised the sanctioning of a Rs 1 lakh crore RDI (Research, Development, and Innovation) Fund. He emphasized that this is the first time in the country's history that government money of this scale is being put into private-sector R&D. *Driving Technological Sovereignty*: The post highlights a clear government emphasis on reducing dependence on foreign suppliers for critical technologies like semiconductors and rare-earth materials. This is a crucial step to protect against global supply-chain disruptions. *Focus on Frontier Tech & R&D*: There is a strong government push to position India in high-tech arenas like artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technologies, and semiconductor design. Chowdhry underscores that without this R&D focus, our manufacturing ambitions can't succeed. *Building the Ecosystem*: These policies, from "Make in India" to Production-Linked Incentives (PLI), are crucial for building domestic supply chains and, most importantly, creating higher-value jobs by shifting from "just assembling" to "designing and manufacturing". It's an insightful perspective on the strategic policies laying the groundwork for India's next technological leap. Ashwini Vaishnaw Ajai Chowdhry Abhay Karandikar Department of Science, Technology and Innovation S Krishnan Sharad Sharma You can watch the full discussion here: https://lnkd.in/g56S2drY #India #Technology #MakeInIndia #DesignInIndia #RDI #ProductNation #AjaiChowdhry #Semiconductors #AI #TechnologicalSovereignty

Everyone’s talking about software security. But what about the hardware beneath it? Trapdoors in chips are a known reality in global electronics. And if we can’t detect them, we can’t claim sovereignty. That’s where India’s new frontier lies — Quantum Sensing. A breakthrough by Prof. Kasturi Saha’s PQuest Group at IIT Bombay has led to the development of a Quantum Diamond Microscope capable of non-destructive evaluation of semiconductor chips and detecting hidden trap doors deep inside them. Recently patented, this is a major milestone for Quantum Technology in India — and one I’m deeply proud of. True security starts at the foundation — if the hardware is compromised, software protections can only do so much. It’s time we focus on securing the devices themselves, not just the code that runs on them. Ashwini Vaishnaw S Krishnan Amitesh Kumar Sinha Kasturi Saha Abhay Karandikar Dr. Ajay Kumar Sood #AjaiChowdhry #JustAspire #Quantumsensing #SemiconductorTechnologicalSovereignty #Softwaresecurity

It was a true pleasure to sit down with Ajai Kumar for a deep dive on a topic that is profoundly close to my heart: India's Technology Sovereignty. Ajai Kumar Ashwini Vaishnaw The Quantum Insider Narendra Modi Abhay Karandikar Jitin Prasada Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India Piyush Goyal S Krishnan Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

India’s rapid approval of the first seven projects under the Electronics Manufacturing Component Scheme underscores the nation’s accelerating drive toward high-value electronics manufacturing. With the application window closing on September 30, 2025, the swift shortlisting and clearance of these projects—out of 249 submissions—in less than a month demonstrates exceptional policy agility and execution. This proactive governance exemplifies the momentum behind India’s manufacturing transformation. I congratulate Honorable Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology for this decisive leadership. https://lnkd.in/gmg6MdjC The Quantum Insider Narendra Modi Abhay Karandikar Jitin Prasada Piyush Goyal Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India S Krishnan

Years ago, a shared belief took root: that to become a global leader, India needed to build its own electronics and semiconductor destiny. It was with this idea that the two founders of HCL launched EPIC. The vision found powerful momentum two years later when a government Task Force, chaired by Prof. Sood under the guidance of Hon. Ashwini Vaishnaw, was formed. Its report gave us a clear roadmap: to create 30 Systems Products and 30 Chips to build a vibrant Product Nation ecosystem. This is a testament to what we can achieve when a clear industry roadmap aligns with a national mission. We shared an idea. The government turned it into action. This is how a complete #design-to-#manufacturing ecosystem begins. Join the discussion as Ajai Chowdhry shares India needs to build its own #electronics and #semiconductors at SEMICON India 2024 Panel Discussion: Making India a Product Nation 3 September 2025, 4:40 PM - 5:40 PM SEMI India India Electronics and Semiconductor Association SEMI India Semiconductor Mission Digital India Corporation Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Narendra Modi Jitin Prasada S Krishnan Amitesh Kumar Sinha Sushil Pal Ajit Manocha ashok chandak #SEMICONIndia #SEMICONIndia2025 #TechForIndia #TechForGood #SemiconductorManufacturing #SemiconductorIndustry #MakeInIndia #IndiaGrowth #DigitalIndia #MakeInIndia #ProductNation #IndiaProductNation #InnovateInIndia #FablessIndia #Innovation #DeepTech #TechStartups #IPCreation #GlobalChampions #IndiaTech #NextGenInnovation #FutureOfTech