The United States recent decision to relax restrictions on the sale of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software to China is raising fresh concerns for India&rsquo;s fledgling semiconductor ambitions. Industry analysts say the move could give Chinese chip designers a significant edge in next-generation fabrication, especially in the critical sub-14nm space, unless India accelerates its own chip design ecosystem.
EDA tools are foundational to semiconductor innovation, acting as the software backbone for designing, testing, and verifying chips before they enter fabrication. Until now, tighter export rules had limited China&rsquo;s access to these advanced tools, particularly for nodes smaller than 14nm, considered vital for everything from smartphones to AI processors.
By easing these curbs, Washington may be recalibrating its tech containment strategy, one that could inadvertently complicate India&rsquo;s position in the global chip race. While India has made major policy pushes in semiconductor manufacturing and assembly, experts point out that&nbsp;chip design remains a critical missing link.
&ldquo;Without a strong design ecosystem, we risk becoming just an assembly base,&rdquo; said a Bengaluru based semiconductor consultant. &ldquo;Now that China is getting access to world-class EDA tools again, the urgency for India to build and scale its chip IP and design capabilities has never been higher.&rdquo;
India has announced multi-billion dollar incentives to attract global foundries and build domestic fabrication units, but the design talent pipeline, spanning electrical engineering, circuit design, and system architecture, requires deeper, long-term investment.
Analysts suggest that India must now prioritize building partnerships with global EDA vendors, encourage academia-industry linkages in chip architecture, and support startups innovating in fabless design.
&ldquo;The next 12 to 18 months are make or break,&rdquo; noted an industry executive familiar with India&rsquo;s semiconductor mission. &ldquo;Design is where intellectual property is created and that&rsquo;s what defines true semiconductor sovereignty.&rdquo;
As the geopolitical landscape around semiconductors continues to evolve, India must act decisively to avoid falling behind. The US-China dynamic may be shifting, but for India, the message is clear: design or be left behind.

US EDA Policy Shift for China Puts Pressure on India’s Chip Plans

With US easing chip software curbs on China, experts warn India to fast track chip design

US EDA Policy Shift for China Puts Pressure on India’s Chip Plans

With US easing chip software curbs on China, experts warn India to fast track chip design

July 13, 2025 | 23:34 IST