Kaynes Semicon eyes photonics, quantum security and neuromorphic chips in India tech push

Kaynes Semicon is looking at silicon photonics (SiPh) and co-packaged optics (CPO), post-quantum security, and neuromorphic computing as potential areas for expansion as India prepares the next phase of its semiconductor support program, CEO Raghu Panicker said. The company expects to apply under India.

He argues that emerging technologies could offer India an opening in parts of the semiconductor industry where global leadership is less entrenched than in conventional chip manufacturing. Panicker's strategy centers on three technology areas: SiPh and CPO, post-quantum semiconductor security, and neuromorphic computing.

What Happened

The technologies address different constraints facing future computing systems, but Panicker sees their development being increasingly shaped by AI infrastructure, where power consumption and the movement of large amounts of data have become major challenges. Kaynes Semicon describes silicon photonics and CPO.

• Home Tech Semiconductors Kaynes Semicon eyes photonics, quantum security and neuromorphic chips in India tech push Prasanth Aby Thomas, DIGITIMES Asia, Bangalore Aug 17, 2026, 09:47 0 Raghu Panicker, CEO, Kaynes Semicon.

• For him, the opportunity rests on entering emerging areas while the technologies are still developing.

• Panicker said he has discussed Kaynes Semicon's technology roadmap with government officials as preparations for ISM 2.0 continue.

Key Details

It positions post-quantum technology around hardware security and future encryption, while neuromorphic computing aims to process information more efficiently by drawing on principles used by the human brain. Panicker said the relative immaturity of these technologies could give new entrants more room.

• His approach is to bring in a small number of experienced engineers and build larger teams of younger engineers around them.

• Panicker said Kaynes SemiCon was looking to recruit senior talent from Singapore with experience in the technology and had identified optics specialists, including PhD candidates from IIT Hyderabad.

• Access to experienced engineers remains a hurdle, particularly in areas such as CPO.

Why It Matters

His argument is that India does not necessarily have to reproduce every stage followed by countries that built semiconductor industries decades earlier. He compared the opportunity with telecommunications, where India moved quickly into newer mobile technologies without deploying older infrastructure on the.

• Kaynes Semicon argues that the challenge facing future systems will increasingly be power rather than simply the availability of computing resources.

• He sees improving energy efficiency as particularly important as AI infrastructure expands.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by digitimes as more details emerge