Semiconductor GCCs in India

The rise of Semiconductor Global Capability Centers (GCCs) in India is indeed an interesting development and could potentially play a significant role in the AI platform shift. GCCs are essentially research and development centers established by global semiconductor companies to leverage India's talent pool and expertise in engineering and technology.
  
With the increasing demand for AI-powered devices and systems, semiconductor companies are investing heavily in research and development to create more powerful, energy-efficient, and specialized chips optimized for AI workloads. India's growing ecosystem of GCCs could contribute to this effort by providing engineering talent, research capabilities, and infrastructure support.
 
Semiconductor GCCs are on the rise in India. About 30% of the new GCCs set up in India during Q4 2023 were in the semiconductor space, signalling a growing interest in leveraging local talent for front-end design, performance testing, and post-silicon validation. A closer look at the recent trends shows Bengaluru racing ahead in India’s semiconductor GCC landscape.

The tech giants who are into semiconductor GCC and have operation in India are-
 
# AMD:  AMD recently inaugurated its largest global design centre in Bengaluru, and is planning to employ about 3,000 engineers.
# EdgeCortix : EdgeCortix is a Japan-based fabless semiconductor company. It is  one of the recent entrants in India’s semiconductor landscape, EdgeCortix has established a GCC in Hyderabad.
#. Intel : Intel operates its GCC in India, with design and R&D centres playing a pivotal role in its global semiconductor operations. These centres are primarily involved in chip design and development activities.
# M31 Technology Corporation : M31 Technology Corporation is a Taiwan-based silicon IP provider that opened an R&D design centre in Bengaluru in October 2023.
#. Micron Technology: Micron is investing $2.75 billion to build a semiconductor facility in Sanand, Gujarat.
#. Nvidia : NVIDIA has established four engineering centres in India, including Bangalore and Delhi. This makes India the company’s second-largest talent pool after the United States.
 
# Signature IP : Signature IP, a US-based company founded in 2021, is dedicated to advancing network-on-chip technology. The company expanded its presence by inaugurating a new R&D centre in Bhubaneswar.
#. Texas Instruments : Texas Instruments was the first multinational company to establish a software design and R&D centre in India in 1985, located in Bengaluru.
#. Qualcomm : Qualcomm has made a significant investment to enhance its presence in Chennai by establishing a new design centre facility. With existing engineering centres in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Delhi,
 
Overall, the rise of Semiconductor GCCs in India reflects a broader trend of globalization and collaboration in the semiconductor industry, which could have significant implications for the future of AI platforms and technology.

Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu, President & CEO, VARINDIA