SFO Technologies and Smart IOPS launch AI SSD production in Kochi, India

SFO Technologies, the electronics arm of the NeST Group, has entered a partnership with US‑based Smart IOPS to manufacture high‑performance solid‑state drives (SSDs) for artificial‑intelligence workloads at its plant in Kochi, Kerala. The collaboration integrates Smart IOPS’s proprietary “TruRandom” controller technology into SFO’s production lines, enabling the creation of AI‑grade storage components required for data centres and supercomputers.

The venture is presented as a step toward India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, shifting the country from assembly‑only electronics to precision semiconductor manufacturing. NeST Group chairman Dr. N. Jehangir highlighted the move as evidence of India’s growing role in the global semiconductor ecosystem, while Smart IOPS co‑founder Radhakrishnan Nair noted the importance of a reliable, high‑precision supply chain for world‑class AI computing.

The partnership aims to provide international tech firms with a dependable Asian manufacturing base and signals a broader effort to develop critical AI infrastructure within India.