In India, we want to hire 3,000 engineers

 In India, we want to hire 3,000 engineers

The $400 million investment by US chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) in India is not a result of financial incentives from the government, but rather reflects AMD's faith in the talent pool in that nation, according to Mark Papermaster, AMD's chief technical officer.

In an interview, Papermaster stated that by 2028, 3,000 engineers will be hired as a result of the majority of the expenditure. He asserted that the government's efforts to foster semiconductor expertise and other measures will turn India into a centre for talent on a global scale.

For the $400 million investment, would AMD seek government incentives under the Semicon programme, and if so, how much?

The AMD announcements are independent of any government subsidies

Is it more cost-effective for a chip manufacturer to have greater ER&D (engineering, research, and development) facilities in India?

The AMD R&D team has been operating in India for more than 20 years, and they play a significant role in developing a wide range of our products. The rich talent in India helps us.

There are already chip engineers and designers at AMD India. What effects will the new hires have on the business?

By the end of 2028, we hope to have 9,500 or more full-time employees, up from the current number of 6,500 or more. With the additional engineers, AMD will be able to develop solutions that combine industry-leading performance and energy efficiency while accelerating AI throughout our entire product range.

What specialised components would the investment require?

The money would go towards a new Bangalore office. Later this year, the largest design centre we have ever created will open. The 500,000 square foot complex offers hybrid workplaces and the most up-to-date collaborative technologies intended to promote collaboration and creativity. By 2028, we want to increase our India staff by 3,000 engineers thanks to a sizable portion of the investment.

What advantages of India's chip PLI/DLI regulations may AMD anticipate?

The AMD is not specifically covered by these rules. According to what we gather, the government is considering a proposal to extend DLI to international firms with Indian design teams. It is currently available to domestic businesses, startups, and MSMEs. The PLI initiative is also focused on IT hardware.

We are dedicated to helping our partners use these incentive packages to promote growth in India from within India.

How does India's supply chain for semiconductor designers and engineers now stack up against other significant worldwide markets?

India has enormous potential to satisfy the semiconductor industry's need for talent. There is a talent pool available since more than 500,000 engineers graduate annually. The expertise, not the number, is where there is a gap. At the moment, engineers strengthen their skills after graduating and joining businesses. Companies provide them with practical training to upskill them.

The Indian government established a talent commission, led by AMD Country Head Jaya Jagadish, to solve this skill deficit. In the more over 300 engineering institutions that offer a major in VLSI design, AICTE has already implemented the curricular adjustments that the committee recommended. The long-term strategy is this.

The government of India has collaborated with foreign colleges like Purdue to provide industry-relevant course material that can be taught to students presently pursuing their engineering degree in VLSI and related subjects. This is done in order to satisfy the short-term upskilling demands.

Along with other initiatives, these steps would not only help India to satisfy its own talent demands in the semiconductor industry but also the needs of the sector internationally.

AMD plans to employ AI in semiconductor design. What features may be anticipated from the India centre over the next couple of years?

In our design implementations for physical design and verification flows, AMD design teams have already used AI acceleration.

Do AMD's chip design and simulation facilities use high-fidelity digital twins?

Yes. Emulation systems from AMD are essentially digital twins of our chip designs and products that let us test software functionality prior to the actual production of chips. Additionally, our adaptive computing chips are utilised in other sectors' digital twin solutions.