The electronics industry is one of the major global economy drivers and semiconductor technology is the backbone of electronics industry. India's semiconductor consumption was $8 billion in 2012, 1 7.4 percent increase from 2011 and the growth is expected to reach US$ 2.4 Trillion by 2020. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology published National Policy on Electronics, 2012. It emphasizes on creating a globally competitive electronic design and manufacturing industry to meet the need of our country and serve the international market. There is, thus, a need to move up the value chain by not only developing specialized manpower who are industry ready for VLSI industry but also to develop expertise in university/research institutions to design working prototypes of System on Chips. "Special Manpower Development Program for Chips to System Design (SMDP-C2SD) http://smdpc2sd.gov.in/smdp_c2sd " is an Umbrella programme initiated under Digital India Program in December 2014 for a duration of 5 years at 60 Academic and Research & Development Institutions spread across the country including IITs, NITs, IISc, IIITs, etc. University of Calcutta, being a premier university with rich heritage of research and teaching in the domain of semiconductor devices, circuits and algorithms, was selected in the program.

The Institute of Radio Physics and Electronics was established in 1949 as a post-graduate teaching and research department of the University of Calcutta. The foundation stone of the Institute of Radio Physics and Electronics was laid on April 21, 1949, by the then Chief Minister of West Bengal, Dr. B.C.Roy. The concluding remark of his address on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of the Institute was the following:

“Let me hope that in laying the foundation stone of the Institute of Radio Physics and Electronics today, I have planted a seed which will grow into a mighty tree, spreading its branches much beyond the borders of your present expectation. The Institute will become not only an all-India center of study and research but will also attract earnest seekers after truth from beyond the boundaries of India”.

The SMDP-C2SD program was initiated in the University of Calcutta, with signing of a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the University of Calcutta, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Govt. of India and CEERI, Pilani in February 2015. The then Honb'le Pro- Vice Chancellor (Academic) chaired the meeting for signing of MoU and the investigator team was selected. The chief investigator and co-chief investigator are selected from the Department of Radio Physics and Electronics. The investigator team also comprises of members from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and A.K.Choudhury School of Information Technology. A working committee under the chairmanship of the Head of the Department of Radio Physics and Electronics is subsequently formed for smooth running of the program. All facilities are initially located under the auspices of the Department of Radio Physics and Electronics till a centrally located accessible space is identified to run the program as desired by the Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic). The SMDP-C2SD being a multi-departmental program, active support from the sister departments is always sought for.