The AMD India Engineering Center (IEC) commenced operations in 2004, six years after its business rival Intel did. Despite a late entrant into the Indian market, the IEC center has aggressively ramped up its development activities.

Designing next generation microprocessors—chips that drive computers and high-end networks for Internet-based applications—would require AMD to attract engineers who have ample years of experience in the field. Attracting talent from competition wasn’t easy, especially in the beginning. AMD relied on the engineering talent that came back from the U.S [returnees] and fresh graduates from the elite schools.

Raghuram Tupuri, General Manager, Micro-processor Design Engineering Center, AMD India, often visits IITs or RECs. Either he is seen picking up the brightest of the talent or talking about new technologies in microprocessor design to the young minds.

The new recruits at AMD are put through the Compressed Design Cycle, a program that exposes them to the entire microprocessor design cycle in fast motion. It covers various aspects of chip making like meeting the electrical specifications, architectural speed et al, and concludes with a feed back review session where the problems are put under post mortem and discussed. This helps the new engineer envisage the end result before he even begins. “The foresight of knowing your final product and the obstacles likely to appear will eventually help you design more effectively,” asserts Tupuri.

The program is indeed quick and effective in helping these new designers get a feel of the entire process. This can be gauged by looking at those who have just been through the exercise. Almost all are excited and apply their research skills. Many a times they figure out the root of the problem before the design gets to its end stage! It is this enthusiasm among the young breed that strengthens the confidence in Tupuri, that things could be designed out of India.