Prime Highlights
- AGNI will introduce Indian-designed semiconductor technology to nearly 1,000 students in five Chennai government schools before expanding nationwide.
- The initiative aims to reduce reliance on imported developer boards by giving students hands-on experience with Indian-built hardware.
Key Facts
- Mindgrove Technologies is an Indian semiconductor startup that designs System-on-Chips for IoT, automotive and computer vision applications.
- AtumX Innovations is a STEM education company working with over 500 schools and 35 education partners across India, the US and Australia.
Background
Indian semiconductor startup Mindgrove Technologies has partnered with STEM education company AtumX Innovations to introduce AGNI, a developer board powered by an Indian-designed chip, into government school classrooms. The programme will begin with five government schools in Chennai and reach nearly 1,000 students with support from the Atal Innovation Mission. The companies plan to expand the initiative to more schools across India in the coming months.
AGNI runs on Mindgrove’s Secure IoT System-on-Chip (SoC), a commercial-grade microcontroller designed in India. AtumX has created a student-friendly integrated development environment (IDE) that helps students move from block-based coding to artificial intelligence applications through practical learning.
The initiative aims to give students early exposure to hardware designed and built in India. The companies believe this will reduce dependence on imported developer boards that are widely used in engineering education and help build stronger technical skills among students.
Mindgrove Co-founder and CEO Shashwath T R said the company developed the board to give future engineers a starting point with Indian semiconductor technology instead of imported hardware. He added that early exposure to locally designed chips could help strengthen India’s semiconductor ecosystem by preparing students to work with homegrown technology.
The companies also said AGNI is meant for engineers and original equipment manufacturers to evaluate and build products using Indian-designed semiconductor technology before Mindgrove launches future chips.
AtumX Co-founder and CEO Akash J said learning on Indian-designed chips from school could encourage students to continue using the technology for higher education, innovation, patents and future startups.
Mindgrove operates from the IIT Madras Research Park and designs chips for Internet of Things, automotive and computer vision applications. AtumX develops STEM learning products and works with more than 500 schools and 35 education partners across India, the US and Australia.
