Govt launches ‘Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge’ and to offer Rs 4.30 crores to startups and students

Government launches 'Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge' and to offer Rs 4.30 crores to startups and students
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad

The challenge spread over 10 months gives the opportunity to as many as 100 semi-finalists to win a total of ₹1 crore, 25 finalists will win total ₹1 crore, while the top 10 teams entering the finale will get the seed fund of total ₹2.3 crore and one-year incubation support.

As part of the government’s vision to become a self-reliant country and provide impetus to the start-up ecosystem, innovation and research in the country, Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday launched ‘Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge.’

Ministry of Electronics and IT said in a press note “IIT Madras and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) have developed two microprocessors named SHAKTI (32 bit) and VEGA (64 bit) respectively, using Open Source Architecture under the aegis of Microprocessor Development Programme of Ministry of Electronics and IT. ‘Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge-Innovate Solutions for Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ seeks to invite innovators, startups, and students to use these microprocessors to develop various technology products”

“As one of the concrete steps towards realizing the ambition of self-reliance and a momentous stride towards ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, this initiative is aimed at not only meeting India’s future requirements of strategic and industrial sectors but also has the potential to migrate the issues of security, licensing, technology obsolescence and most crucially cutting dependency on imports” the ministry added.

The government will offer financial support of ₹4.30 crore at various stages of the challenge for developing the hardware prototype and incubating a start-up will be offered. While the registration process began on 18 August, the challenge will be spread over 10 months. The registration process can be done at the website https://innovate.mygov.in.

It gives the opportunity to as many as 100 semi-finalists to win a total of ₹1 crore, 25 finalists will win total ₹1 crore, while the top 10 teams entering the finale will get the seed fund of total ₹2.3 crore and one-year incubation support.