Cadence expresses strong support for India’s indigenous GPUs push

Cadence Design Systems, a leading US-based electronic design automation and semiconductor IP company, has expressed strong support for India’s push to develop indigenous Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). This initiative aligns with India’s broader semiconductor ambitions amidst US export restrictions on advanced AI chips, which aim to prevent technology transfer to adversarial nations like China. As a US ally, India remains largely unaffected by these restrictions and is leveraging this geopolitical advantage to bolster its domestic semiconductor ecosystem.

Key Highlights

• Collaboration with Indian Government: Cadence is open to working with the Indian government and institutions like the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) on GPU design projects. The company’s tools are crucial for semiconductor design, making it a key enabler for India’s aspirations .
• Support for Startups: Through the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme, Cadence provides chip design tools and software to startups and research institutions. However, progress under the DLI scheme has been slower than anticipated, with only 14 of 60 proposals approved so far.
• Leveraging Indian Talent: Cadence employs over 4,200 people in India, primarily in research and development. While multinational corporations dominate using Cadence’s tools in India, local participation is gradually increasing.
• Challenges in Domestic Growth: Despite India’s talent pool and government incentives, domestic companies are lagging in semiconductor design compared to global players. Cadence’s India MD Jaswinder Ahuja emphasized the need for greater focus on building intellectual property (IP) domestically to strengthen the ecosystem.

India’s push for GPU independence is part of its larger goal to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers and become a global semiconductor powerhouse. Cadence’s involvement underscores the critical role of private sector collaboration in achieving this vision.

CT Bureau