Dhanbad: A semiconductor chip designed by students and research scholars at IIT(ISM), Dhanbad, has earned national recognition at Semicon India 2026, highlighting the institute’s growing contribution to indigenous chip design and low-power semiconductor technology.Developed under a MeitY-funded project, ‘Ultra-Low Power Assistive Smart Glass’, the chip was presented at a handover ceremony in New Delhi on Thursday. Research scholar Rahul Ranjan received the chip and a commemorative memento from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside representatives of 20 institutions from across the country.The IIT(ISM) team was led by Rajeev Kumar Ranjan, associate professor in the department of electronics engineering. Fabricated at the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) in Mohali, the digital application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is designed for real-time image processing through an OV7670 camera.The chip has been developed with a focus on compact, energy efficient smart glass applications. Its architecture and processing framework, the institute said, can also be adapted for biomedical imaging, assistive healthcare devices, wearable sensors and edge-AI systems.“The recognition would encourage young researchers to undertake impactful work in semiconductor design and further strengthen India’s drive towards self-reliance in chip manufacturing,” Ranjan said.The inaugural and chip handover ceremonies were telecast live at Penman Auditorium on the IIT(ISM) campus. Director Sukumar Mishra, registrar Prabodh Pandey, dean of students’ welfare Sanjoy Mandal, associate dean (students’ well-being) Sanjeev Anand Sahu and faculty members attended the event.The recognition comes as IIT(ISM) expands its work in low-power chip design and indigenous semiconductor technology under MeitY-supported initiatives.
