Samsung Semiconductor India Research and Indian Institute of Science Partner for Semiconductor R&D in India

Bengaluru, India – Samsung Semiconductor India Research (SSIR), a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics and a technology hub for semiconductor hardware and software development, announced a new partnership with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to promote on-chip Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Protection research and development. Balajee Sowrirajan, CVP & MD, SSIR, and Prof Govindan Rangarajan, Director, IISc, signed the research agreement in front of Samsung and IISc representatives. These partnerships will unleash semiconductor innovation to power the next generation of hyperintelligent devices and aim to build cutting-edge ESD device solutions to protect ultra-high-speed serial interfaces in advanced Integrated Circuits (ICs) and system-on-chip (SoC) products. Prof Mayank Shrivastava’s group at the Department of Electronic Systems Engineering (DESE), IISc will conduct related research, and its findings will be implemented in Samsung’s advanced process nodes.

ICs and SoCs are used in almost every system, from small to large, but they are very sensitive to ESD failures, especially those made with advanced nanoscale CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) technologies. ESD causes most IC chip failures and field returns. This is also a rare area of expertise, and industries that have mastered the art of designing ESD protection devices and interface concepts dominate the market. Thus, semiconductor innovation requires ESD technology research and development for highly reliable interfaces and SoCs with low power and high speed. IISc is one of the world's leading institutes that leads ESD device research.

Delighted to partner with IISc to boost semiconductor innovation and develop ESD knowledge with IISc expertise, Sowrirajan said, “Our goal is also to increase capacity building through training programs at the postgraduate level, opening up opportunities for students to pursue industry internships, and encouraging entrepreneurial ventures by young researchers.”

Commenting on the partnership, Prof Rangarajan stated, “We are excited to collaborate with Samsung Semiconductor India Research in the crucial area of advanced nanoelectronics device research. The partnership reinforces our commitment to strengthen industry-academia engagements that can make a significant impact in the coming years.”

Prof. Shrivastava, who heads the MSDLab and will lead this collaboration, added, “We have been collaborating extensively with semiconductor industries worldwide on advanced nanoelectronics technologies, including solutions to ESD reliability threats to advanced SoCs. We have carried out both fundamental and applied research on ESD protection devices, with a strong emphasis on creating practical solutions for the semiconductor industry in a range of technology nodes.”

Image Source: Semiconductor India Research (SSIR)

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