India to Develop Indigenous AI Vision Chip: TDB-DST Signs ₹130 Crore Agreement with BigEndian Semiconductors

The Technology Development Board (TDB) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has taken a significant step toward strengthening indigenous semiconductor capabilities in India. Under the Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) fund, the TDB has signed an agreement for financial assistance of ₹130 crore with Bengaluru-based M/s BigEndian Semiconductors, Karnataka.

The project, titled 'VeerAI', has a total estimated cost of ₹260 crore. This financial assistance will be provided through Optionally Convertible Debentures (OCD). The primary objective of the project is to advance the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) from Level-5 to Level-9.

Through the VeerAI project, a camera-centric AI Vision System-on-Chip (SoC) will be developed on a sovereign technology platform. This chip is specifically designed for surveillance applications, primarily CCTV systems, with the aim of reducing dependence on foreign semiconductor and technology supply chains. The platform will combine AI processing and smart features with security, privacy, and connectivity capabilities.

Initially, this technology will be utilized for CCTV and surveillance in India and other developing countries (Global South). Furthermore, there are plans to expand its use into the defense, automotive, industrial, and medical sectors in the future. The project aims to leverage the country's VLSI design and semiconductor talent to transform domestic design capabilities into a commercial product platform.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary of TDB, Mr. Rajesh Kumar Pathak, stated that semiconductors are the foundation of every emerging technology. He emphasized that developing indigenous capabilities in AI chips for specific applications is a crucial part of strengthening the nation's technology ecosystem. He further explained that the RDI fund supports technologies that require significant investment for commercial deployment.

Promoters of BigEndian Semiconductors stated that the assistance from TDB will help accelerate the development and validation of Project VeerAI, ensuring their AI Vision SoC becomes commercially viable.