AMD brings $400 million to design semiconductors

US chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) announced a $400 million investment in India to build its largest design centre in Bengaluru and said it will use Indian workforce across every aspect of its global portfolio.

The US chipmaker sees the semiconductor engagement in the country expanding at a frenetic pace.
AMD’s chief technology officer Mark Papermaster said the company has been encouraged by the push given to the work around semiconductors by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other teams within the government, making the company broaden its engagement here.

“We are excited to be having such a strong presence in design in India. Commensurate with our growth in design, we see the market here expanding rapidly. It is very clear from the statement of PM Modi that he is creating a climate of growth and investment in India,” he told TOI.
AMD has been in India for over two decades, and Papermaster said the new investments would now be spread over five years. “Through these investments, we plan to expand our R&D capability to drive semiconductor design and innovation. Also, we intend to make India a strong talent nation when it comes to semiconductors.”
He said the company already has a “large and growing investment” in India. “With the new investments, we will take our workforce from 6,500 to almost 10,000 by 2028.”
On the work being done by the company’s India team, he said design skills are fundamental to leadership and the breadth of its product portfolio. “The role of our Indian team is global. They design across every aspect of our portfolio and across our entire breadth of skills.”
When asked about the changes the company has noticed when dealing with the government, he said, “We have been active in leading workforce development for semiconductors in India. So, we are partnering with the government to make the aspirations of India in becoming a strong hub for semiconductor development real.”
AMD is the latest American company to bet big on the Indian semiconductor market. Weeks back, Micron had announced a $2.7-billion investment project in India for a high-end semiconductor testing and packaging unit.