US chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has announced a $400 million investment in India over the next five years. Mark Papermaster, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of AMD, revealed the plans during the SemiconIndia 2023 event in Gandhinagar, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The investment includes establishing AMD's largest design center in Bengaluru and creating around 3,000 new engineering roles by 2028. The move has been positively received, with ministers of the Ministry of Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, expressing support and highlighting the opportunities it brings for India's semiconductor engineers and researchers.

AMD initiated its operations in India back in 2001 with its first site in New Delhi. Since then, the company has grown significantly, currently employing over 6,500 professionals in India. The new 500,000-square-foot campus in Bengaluru is expected to expand AMD's office footprint, bringing the total locations across various Indian cities, including Bangalore, Delhi, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, and Mumbai, to 10. The new Bengaluru campus, set to open before the end of 2023, will feature advanced facilities such as extensive lab space and state-of-the-art collaboration tools, designed to foster teamwork.

The investment by AMD is backed by the Indian government's policy initiatives aimed at promoting growth in the semiconductor industry. With this substantial investment, AMD reaffirms its commitment to India's growing tech landscape and its strategic importance in the company's global operations.

"From a handful of employees in 2001 to more than 6,500 employees today, AMD has grown its India footprint based on the strong foundation established by our local leadership and the highly skilled talent pool,” said Papermaster.

 “By further investing and expanding our presence in Bangalore, we are committed to driving innovation in India to support the India Semiconductor Mission," he added.

According to recent statements from AMD, the company boasts an extensive product portfolio driven by advancements in artificial intelligence, networking, and 6G communications. India's role within AMD is emphasized as crucial in delivering high-performance and adaptive solutions to serve the company's global customer base.

In light of this, AMD has made a significant decision to establish its largest R&D design center in India, signifying an expansion of the India-AMD partnership. This development has garnered positive responses from Ashwini Vaishnaw and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, both ministers of the Ministry of Electronics & IT. The new design centre is expected to offer abundant opportunities for the country's highly skilled semiconductor engineers and researchers, further solidifying India's position in the tech industry.

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