The Semi-Conductor Laboratory, Chandigarh, (SCL) is a research institute of the Department of Space, Government of India. Its aims include research and development in the field of Semiconductor technology.[1]
SCL had its origin as the Semiconductor Complex Limited, a public sector undertaking of the Government of India. It came under the administrative control of Department of Space in March 2005 and has since undergone organisational restructuring to become focussed on research and development. The society, named Semi-Conductor Laboratory, was registered in November, 2005.
The Semi-Conductor Laboratory is responsible for design and development of VLSI devices and development of systems for telecommunication and space sectors. SCL has facilities for fabrication of micro-electronic devices in 0.8 micrometre range and Micro Electro Mechanical Systems. Facilities to fabricate advanced devices in 0.35 micrometre range are planned.
The Department of Space (DoS) planned to upgrade SCL to produce chips of 0.25 micrometer size from the current 0.8 micrometres. In 2006, IBM won a competition with another US-based firm, Atmel Corp., to handle a nearly Rs 5,000,000,000 contract to upgrade Semi-Conductor Laboratory. IBM backed out of the deal in 2008 citing concerns of dual-use technologies.[2] DoS planned to upgrade the fab on its own after IBM backed out of the deal.[3] As of 2010, SCL is undergoing an upgrade to produce chips of 0.18 micrometres from Tower Semiconductor Limited, Israel.
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