IIT Hyderabad Launches First-of-its-kind Incubator in Chip Design Sector

BENGALURU, February 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

FabCI collaborates with Cadence, a leading provider of Electronic Design Automation software, as technology partner  

Highlights:  

• Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad launches first-of-a-kind incubator program for fabless IC startups in India 
• Fabless Chip Design Incubator Program, or FabCI, has the support of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) 
• FabCI will incubate world-class semiconductor startups that can help accelerate change in the Indian landscape in semiconductor design 
• Program provides remote access to facilities and software to non-Hyderabad based incubatees 

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad has launched a first-of-its-kind incubator program focusing on creating an ecosystem for grooming startups in the area of chip design.

Called the Fabless Chip Design Incubator Program, or FabCI, it will be based in the IIT Hyderabad campus for fabless IC startups in India at their campus in Hyderabad.

The Fabless Chip Design Incubator is a flagship program being executed with the support of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) and in partnership with Cadence^® Design Systems, Inc., a leading provider of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software, hardware and IP.

The primary motivation for this unique incubator program is to provide a one-stop solution for startups focusing in the area of chip design. The vision of this incubator is to create an ecosystem wherein the incubatees are not only provided with the relevant infrastructure, hardware and software but also are mentored through the path of success with the help of mentors who are pioneers in this field.

Speaking about the launch of FabCI, Prof U.B. Desai, Director, IIT Hyderabad, said, "This new incubator program demonstrates our commitment to generating IPR in chip design. It will be another testament to the entrepreneurial culture of the Institute."

"I am confident that FabCI will make great contributions to the growth of chip design in the country. This incubator program will also be a shot in the arm to the 'Make in India' campaign and help India become a global hub for chip design," added Prof Desai.

The grand vision is to leverage the deep research and design expertise of the IIT Hyderabad faculty as well as external mentors to create Indian IP and to make a mark in chip design internationally.

IIT Hyderabad has designated Cadence as the technology partner for FabCI. While there is a dedicated facility being established at the IIT-H campus for the incubator, remote access to Cadence's tools is available to enable semiconductor innovation and entrepreneurship irrespective of location.

The incubator is fully functional already and is soliciting applications from fabless IC startups. 

Speaking about the partnership with IIT Hyderabad for FabCI program, Mr. Jaswinder Ahuja, Corporate Vice President and Managing Director, Cadence Design Systems (India) Pvt Ltd, said, "Innovation and entrepreneurship are essential for the growth of the Electronics System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM) ecosystem in India. Incubators play a catalytic role in lowering entry barriers and fostering entrepreneurship. Cadence has been working with the Government of India, industry and academia for many years now to grow the ecosystem. We are excited to partner with an esteemed institution like IIT-H for 'FabCI', a unique incubator, which we expect can provide a boost to homegrown semiconductor innovation."

Mr. Hemant Kanakia, Chief Advisor and Mentor for FabCI, said, "India has an enormous potential to become a center of excellence for fabless semiconductor product and service companies. FabCI is a very good first step in realizing that potential by creating an ecosystem for startups in the semi-conductor sector. In my opinion, the success of FabCI depends on partnerships with Industries such as EDA tools, fabrication factories, Indian Electronics and Semiconductor Association and local subsidiaries of multinationals involved in design and manufacture of silicon products in India. I applaud the support of Ministry of Electronics and Information, in particular Addl. Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar (IAS) for supporting the creation this center."

In addition to its world-class EDA technologies, Cadence will also provide its platforms for emulation, rapid prototyping and access to its engineering expertise to ensure success of the incubator and incubatees.

About IIT Hyderabad (http://www.iith.ac.in/)

Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) is one of the six new Indian Institutes of Technology established by the Government of India in 2008. In a short span of less than 10 years, the institute built on an imposing 570-acre campus has been ranked #10 among research and teaching institutions in Engineering in the India Rankings 2017 released by Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India. IITH has 181 full time faculty, 2,328 students, more than 100 state of the art laboratories and 9 research and entrepreneurship centers. IIT-H has a strong research focus with more than Rs. 250 Cr of sanctioned research funding while Ph.D. scholars account for about 30% of total student strength. IITH students and faculty are at the forefront of innovation with more than 1,500 research publications and patent disclosures, 300 sponsored/consultancy projects and 50 industry collaborations. IITH has MoUs with 50 universities in the U.S., Japan, Australia, Taiwan and Europe. IITH has been leading pioneering change in pedagogy with fractal academic programs that encourages interdisciplinary learning spanning innovative technology, fundamental science, liberal arts and creative arts like photography, theatre and painting.

About Cadence

Cadence enables electronic systems and semiconductor companies to create the innovative end products that are transforming the way people live, work and play. Cadence® software, hardware and semiconductor IP are used by customers to deliver products to market faster. The company's System Design Enablement strategy helps customers develop differentiated products—from chips to boards to systems—in mobile, consumer, cloud datacenter, automotive, aerospace, IoT, industrial and other market segments. Cadence is listed as one of Fortune Magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For. Learn more at cadence.com .

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Juhee Ahmed
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