06/07/2026
The College of Engineering Trivandrum (CET), in collaboration with Thiruvananthapuram-based VLSI start-up Netrasemi Private Limited, has successfully completed the tape-out of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) chip named R1000, designed for vision and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. The project was carried out under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology's (MeitY) Chip-to-Startup (C2S) programme, an initiative aimed at strengthening India's semiconductor and VLSI ecosystem. As part of the programme, CET received financial assistance amounting to ₹4.7 crore over three years, along with access to advanced design tools and technical support.
The CET team is led by Dr Sreelatha G., Chief Investigator of the project, Prof. Adersh V. R., Dr. Nikhil M, and Dr. Resmi E Co-Chief Investigators. From Netrasemi Private Limited, Mr Jyothis Indirabhai S., Chief Executive Officer (CEO), serves as the Chief Investigator, while Mr Sreejith Varma C. K., Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Ms. Deepa Geetha, Chief Operating Officer (COO), are the Co-Chief Investigators. Dr Sreelatha G. is an alumna of the 1996 AEI batch of CET, while both Mr Jyothis Indirabhai S. and Mr Sreejith Varma C. K. are alumni of the 1995 ECE batch of the institution, highlighting the strong contribution of CET alumni to India's growing semiconductor ecosystem.
The newly developed chip, CNVR1K (CET–Netrasemi Vision SoC R1000), has been fabricated using the advanced 12nm technology node at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), marking a significant technological milestone. The achievement is notable for two reasons: it is considered the first AI-capable chip developed by an academic institution in India, and also the first tape-out from an Indian academic institution using the advanced 12nm process technology. The fabricated chip is expected to be delivered in July 2026 for post-silicon validation and testing. Following successful validation, Netrasemi plans to commercialize the chip for AI-based vision and IoT applications. The development is expected to provide a major boost to semiconductor research and innovation in Kerala and demonstrates the growing collaboration between academia and industry in India's emerging chip design ecosystem.
