Stories
NIT Warangal PhD Scholar Develops Low-Power Microchip, Eyes Commercialisation
N
News18•02-10-2026, 17:20
NIT Warangal PhD Scholar Develops Low-Power Microchip, Eyes Commercialisation
- •Kaira Anupama, a PhD scholar at NIT Warangal, developed a power management integrated circuit (IC) for energy-efficient smartwatches and IoT devices.
- •The chip, designed for sensor-based applications, integrates a Low Drop-Out (LDO) Regulator and a temperature sensor, with the LDO designed by Anupama and the temperature sensor by Jayaram Chilaka.
- •The microchip aims to extend battery life in devices like wearables and healthcare monitors by improving power management in sensor applications.
- •The project received funding from the Government of India's MeitY Chips to Startup (C2S) programme for fabrication and is currently seeking angel investors for commercialisation.
- •The research team is in the process of patenting the Power Management IC, with an estimated cost of ’50-60 per chip if manufactured at scale.
Key Questions Answered
The microchip is designed for power management in sensor-based applications, making it potentially useful for smartwatches, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, wearable technology, healthcare monitoring equipment, and other low-power electronics.
The fabrication of the chip received financial support from the Government of India under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s Chips to Startup programme.
Kaira Anupama estimates that the cost could be around ₹50 to ₹60 per chip if production is scaled up to large quantities, though the final price will depend on manufacturing arrangements and production volumes.
